Supreme Court transfers Gyanvapi mosque case to Varanasi District Judge

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday transferred the case related to plea for worship at Gyanvapi mosque for consideration by the District Judge in Varanasi, saying in a view of complexity of matters, a senior and experienced judicial officer of the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service should examine it.

A Bench of the apex court headed by Justice Dr D Y Chandrachud passed the interim order. "The case be transferred from Civil Judge Senior Division Varanasi to District Judge Varanasi. The application filed by plaintiff (Masjid Committe) shall be decided on priority by the district judge on transfer of suit. Our interim order dated May 17 shall continue," the Supreme Court said.

It said that unless due arrangements have been made for wuzu, the District Magistrate must consult the parties and make appropriate arrangements. The interim order came after hearing from the Masjid committee lawyer, Huzefa Ahmadi, and other parties.

The Supreme Court said that the District Judge should examine the maintainability of suit on priority as sought by the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi.

The Supreme Court said that its interim order passed on May 17 shall continue in operation till maintainability of the suit is decided and thereafter eight weeks will be available to enable the parties to pursue legal remedies.

The Supreme Court had on May 13 refused to pass any order in the appeal mentioned by the petitioner against the Allahabad High Court's order which allowed an advocate commissioner to survey the Gyanvapi mosque. (UNI)