The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the civil court in Varanasi to not proceed with hearing the Gyanvapi case till it takes up the matter on Friday.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and PS Narashima was informed by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain that lead counsel Hari Shankar Jain for the Hindu devotees in the civil suit in the case is indisposed.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain urged the court to take up the matter for hearing on Friday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explainer-gyanvapi-mosque-survey-supreme-court-to-hear-mosques-appeal-on-may-17-479626">Gyanvapi: Supreme Court to hear appeal against videography survey on May 17</a>

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, said several applications have been filed across the country to "seal" various mosques and in the Gyanvapi case in Varanasi the hearing is going on and an application has been filed to "demolish" a wall around the 'wazukhana' (ablution room).

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: India to re-think sedition law

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Ahmadi said he cannot oppose adjournment on the grounds of health of a counsel but an undertaking should be given that Hindu devotees will not proceed with the civil court proceedings.

Advocate Vishnu said they are assuring the bench that the Hindu parties would not proceed with the hearing before the civil court at Varanasi. The bench recorded the submission and passed the order asking the civil court to not proceed with the hearing in the case till Friday, when it will hear the matter.

On May 17, the top court had directed the district magistrate of Varanasi to ensure protection of an area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where a 'Shivling' is said to have been found during a survey and allowed Muslims to offer 'namaz' and perform 'religious observances.'

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The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the civil court in Varanasi to not proceed with hearing the Gyanvapi case till it takes up the matter on Friday. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and PS Narashima was informed by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain that lead counsel Hari Shankar Jain for the Hindu devotees in the civil suit in the case is indisposed.

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the civil court in Varanasi to not proceed with hearing the Gyanvapi case till it takes up the matter on Friday. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and PS Narashima was informed by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain that lead counsel Hari Shankar Jain for the Hindu devotees in the civil suit in the case is indisposed. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain urged the court to take up the matter for hearing on Friday. Also read | Gyanvapi: Supreme Court to hear appeal against videography survey on May 17 Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, said several applications have been filed across the country to "seal" various mosques and in the Gyanvapi case in Varanasi the hearing is going on and an application has been filed to "demolish" a wall around the 'wazukhana' (ablution room). Watch | Gravitas: India to re-think sedition law Also read | Lord Shiva idol found in a well located in Gyanvapi mosque complex, lawyer claims Ahmadi said he cannot oppose adjournment on the grounds of health of a counsel but an undertaking should be given that Hindu devotees will not proceed with the civil court proceedings. Advocate Vishnu said they are assuring the bench that the Hindu parties would not proceed with the hearing before the civil court at Varanasi. The bench recorded the submission and passed the order asking the civil court to not proceed with the hearing in the case till Friday, when it will hear the matter. On May 17, the top court had directed the district magistrate of Varanasi to ensure protection of an area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where a 'Shivling' is said to have been found during a survey and allowed Muslims to offer 'namaz' and perform 'religious observances.' WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

SC to hear challenge to Gyanvapi mosque survey on Friday, asks Varanasi court to desist from hearing today

On Monday, lawyers representing the Hindu petitioners claimed to have found a “Shivling” (the symbol of Hindu god Shiva) idol at the disputed Gyanvapi mosque during a court-ordered video survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex in Varanasi in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

The claim was made despite the fact that the district court had strictly forbidden the officials concerned to reveal the nature of the mosque to the public.

The Muslim petitioners rejected the allegation, claiming it was a "fountain, not a shivling".

Even the Varanasi District Magistrate, Kaushal Raj Sharma, did not confirm the reports of a "shivling" being found.

Earlier, the court-ordered filming was challenged before Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the case in April.

Later, a lawyer representing the Gyanvapi Mosque trust approached the Supreme Court and said the order is against the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

The apex court refused to stop the filming but agreed to consider a Muslim petitioner's plea against the survey of the mosque complex.

The latest issue of the Gyanvapi Mosque has brought the focus back to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, on the basis of which the mosque trust is contesting the order.

What is Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991?

The law was passed in 1991 by former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao during the peak of the Ram Mandir movement, exactly a year before the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

The law aims to maintain the “religious character” of places of worship as it was in 1947 — except in the case of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

What are its clauses?

Section 3 of the Act bars the conversion of a religious place of worship or a section of a religious place of worship into a place of worship of a different religion or a different denomination of the same religion.

Section 4(2)&nbsp;states that all appeals, suits or other proceedings with respect to converting the religious character of a place of worship shall end on the commencement of the Act. Also, fresh appeals won’t be allowed to be filed.

Notably, the act states that legal proceedings could be initiated if the change of religious character of the place of worship was done after August 15, 1947.

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Moreover, the Places of Worship Act imposes a positive obligation on the state (read government) to maintain the religious character of all places of worship as it existed at the time of independence.

Penalty under the Act

The Act imposes a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment along with a fine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gyanvapi-masjid-survey-over-what-we-know-so-far-479503" hreflang="en">Gyanvapi Masjid survey over: What we know so far</a>

Supreme Court’s views

In the 2019 Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi verdict, the SC Constitution Bench upheld the law and said that it is reflective of the secular credentials in the Constitution of India and that it prohibits retrogression.

On Monday, lawyers representing the Hindu petitioners claimed to have found a “Shivling” (the symbol of Hindu god Shiva) idol at the disputed Gyanvapi mosque during a court-ordered video survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex in Varanasi in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

On Monday, lawyers representing the Hindu petitioners claimed to have found a “Shivling” (the symbol of Hindu god Shiva) idol at the disputed Gyanvapi mosque during a court-ordered video survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex in Varanasi in northern Uttar Pradesh state. The claim was made despite the fact that the district court had strictly forbidden the officials concerned to reveal the nature of the mosque to the public. The Muslim petitioners rejected the allegation, claiming it was a "fountain, not a shivling". Even the Varanasi District Magistrate, Kaushal Raj Sharma, did not confirm the reports of a "shivling" being found. Earlier, the court-ordered filming was challenged before Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the case in April. Later, a lawyer representing the Gyanvapi Mosque trust approached the Supreme Court and said the order is against the Places of Worship Act, 1991. The apex court refused to stop the filming but agreed to consider a Muslim petitioner's plea against the survey of the mosque complex. The latest issue of the Gyanvapi Mosque has brought the focus back to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, on the basis of which the mosque trust is contesting the order. What is Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991? The law was passed in 1991 by former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao during the peak of the Ram Mandir movement, exactly a year before the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The law aims to maintain the “religious character” of places of worship as it was in 1947 — except in the case of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. What are its clauses? Section 3 of the Act bars the conversion of a religious place of worship or a section of a religious place of worship into a place of worship of a different religion or a different denomination of the same religion. Section 4(2) states that all appeals, suits or other proceedings with respect to converting the religious character of a place of worship shall end on the commencement of the Act. Also, fresh appeals won’t be allowed to be filed. Notably, the act states that legal proceedings could be initiated if the change of religious character of the place of worship was done after August 15, 1947. Also read | Lord Shiva idol found in well located in Gyanvapi mosque, lawyer claims Moreover, the Places of Worship Act imposes a positive obligation on the state (read government) to maintain the religious character of all places of worship as it existed at the time of independence. Penalty under the Act The Act imposes a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment along with a fine. Also read | Gyanvapi Masjid survey over: What we know so far Supreme Court’s views In the 2019 Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi verdict, the SC Constitution Bench upheld the law and said that it is reflective of the secular credentials in the Constitution of India and that it prohibits retrogression.

What is Places of Worship Act that is at the centre of Gyanvapi mosque issue?

Gyanvapi: Supreme Court to hear appeal against videography survey on May 17

Advocates of the Hindu side have claimed that a 'Shivling' (idol of Lord Shiva) has been found inside a well of Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. The claim was made as court-mandated videography took place on third consecutive day.

Lawyer Vishnu Jain said that he would go to civil court to seek protection of the idol.

An advocate from the Hindu side, Madan Mohan Yadav, claimed that the shivling is Nandi faced.

"The shivling is 12 feet by 8 inches in diameter," he added.

Heavy security was deployed at the complex as court-appointed committee reached spot to carry out the survey on Monday (May 16). On Sunday, nearly 65 per cent of the exercise was completed.

On Sunday, the survey of the areas of the mosque which, according to lawyers Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Jain, used to be a part of the temple, was done.

On the western wall of the Gyanvapi complex, the remains of Hindu temple demolition are visible and the pictures will be surveyed. For this, the fourth lock was opened on Monday, while the first three rooms were opened during the survey on Saturday.

What is the Gyanvapi mosque issue?

Gyanvapi Mosque is near the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the holy city Varanasi. The mosque is currently facing a legal battle. A court in Varanasi has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to probe the structure of the Gyanvapi Masjid.

The Hindu side&nbsp;wants permission to worship in the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex daily. It has demanded videography of the structure to support its claim that in order to prove the existence of Shringar Gauri (a Hindu deity) idol, entry into the mosque is necessary.

The Muslim side, which is, Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid (mosque management committee) says that the idol of Shringar Gauri is on the western side of the mosque.

It is claimed that the temple was built more than two thousand years ago. The claim says that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb demolished the Hindu temple and built a mosque.

Five Delhi-based women -- Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu and others moved the court with their plea on April 18, 2021, seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols of Hindu deities.

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Advocates of the Hindu side have claimed that a 'Shivling' (idol of Lord Shiva) has been found inside a well of Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. The claim was made as court-mandated videography took place on third consecutive day.

Advocates of the Hindu side have claimed that a 'Shivling' (idol of Lord Shiva) has been found inside a well of Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. The claim was made as court-mandated videography took place on third consecutive day. Lawyer Vishnu Jain said that he would go to civil court to seek protection of the idol. An advocate from the Hindu side, Madan Mohan Yadav, claimed that the shivling is Nandi faced. "The shivling is 12 feet by 8 inches in diameter," he added. Heavy security was deployed at the complex as court-appointed committee reached spot to carry out the survey on Monday (May 16). On Sunday, nearly 65 per cent of the exercise was completed. On Sunday, the survey of the areas of the mosque which, according to lawyers Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Jain, used to be a part of the temple, was done. On the western wall of the Gyanvapi complex, the remains of Hindu temple demolition are visible and the pictures will be surveyed. For this, the fourth lock was opened on Monday, while the first three rooms were opened during the survey on Saturday. What is the Gyanvapi mosque issue? Gyanvapi Mosque is near the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the holy city Varanasi. The mosque is currently facing a legal battle. A court in Varanasi has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to probe the structure of the Gyanvapi Masjid. The Hindu side wants permission to worship in the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex daily. It has demanded videography of the structure to support its claim that in order to prove the existence of Shringar Gauri (a Hindu deity) idol, entry into the mosque is necessary. The Muslim side, which is, Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid (mosque management committee) says that the idol of Shringar Gauri is on the western side of the mosque. It is claimed that the temple was built more than two thousand years ago. The claim says that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb demolished the Hindu temple and built a mosque. Five Delhi-based women -- Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu and others moved the court with their plea on April 18, 2021, seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols of Hindu deities. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Lord Shiva idol found in a well located in Gyanvapi mosque complex, lawyer claims

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SC to hear challenge to Gyanvapi mosque survey on Friday, asks Varanasi court to desist from hearing today

What is Places of Worship Act that is at the centre of Gyanvapi mosque issue?

Gyanvapi: Supreme Court to hear appeal against videography survey on May 17

Lord Shiva idol found in a well located in Gyanvapi mosque complex, lawyer claims