Gyanvapi Case: SC Transfers Suit Trial To District Judge; Qutub Minar Row Next?
Gyanvapi Case: The Supreme Court, on May 17, had clarified that the protection of the spot ordered by the Civil Judge Senior Division, Varanasi, would not hinder the muslim populace to access the mosque to perform necessary religious activities.
The bench of Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant and Justice PS Narashima of the Supreme court, on Friday, passed an order to shift the Srinagar-Guri-Gyanvapi case from senior division to the judges here in Varanasi district Court. The hearing would now be undertaken by the district court on May 23.
The supreme court shifted the trial on account of the sensitivity that the issue has now honed over time. As per the apex court, the social complexity that the issue fosters requires a “senior and experienced judicial offer of UP Higher judicial service.”
The Supreme Court, on May 17, had clarified that the protection of the spot ordered by the Civil Judge Senior Division, Varanasi, would not hinder the muslim populace to access the mosque to perform necessary religious activities.
Amid the Gyanvapi tussle, many media reports suggested that a similar row could be simmering for Qutub Minar. The reports claimed that the Culture Ministry has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out an excavation drive at the minaret situated in Deli.
However, negating the reports, the Union Culture Minister, GK Reddy, denied the claims and said, “No such decision has been taken,” reported ANI.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1528305273974050817
The claims surfaced amid a substantial Hindu population seeking to change the name of Qutub Minar to Vishnu Stambh and believing that the “stambh” was built by King Vikramaditya.
The religious altercation breathed as the committee concocted by the Supreme Court observed that the determination of the character of a religious place or a place of worship is not prohibited under the Places of Worship Act of 1991.
The top court, during the trial, said, “The ascertainment of religious character is not barred. The ascertainment of religious character of a place as a professional instrument may not fall foul of section 3 or 4,” reported Live Law. As per the Places of Worship Act 1991, All religious sites, except Ram Janmabhoomi, are immune to any tampering or modification, in reference to their state as of August 15, 1947.
