BREAKING: Gyanvapi Masjid to be sealed for ‘protection of Shivling’, directs Varanasi Court

The Varanasi Court has issued an important order regarding the Gyanvapi mosque verdict. The court bench has said that a section of the Gyanvapi masjid will be sealed off for now for the protection of the Shivling that was found inside the property.

The order issued by the Varanasi court stated that the part of the Gyanvapi Masjid where the Shivling was found has to be sealed off for its protection, and no unauthorized person will be allowed to enter the sealed section of the mosque.

Further, the court has directed that authorized personnel will be deployed near the sealed area of the mosque to ensure that no one enters. Varanasi District Magistrate, Commissioner, and CRPF commandant will be deployed to ensure the “safety of the Shivling”.

This order was passed by the court soon after the videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque when the petitioner claimed that a Shivling was found inside the well of the masjid. The Court, therefore, ordered that the area be sealed off for further investigation.

The petitioner claimed, "Shivling....Jiski Nandi pratiksha kar rahi thi... The moment things became clear the chants of ‘Har Har Mahavdev’ resonated in mosque premises.” The Hindu petitioner, Sohan Lal Arya, had accompanied the authorities to the mosque and claimed that a shivling was found in the well.

The survey was conducted in accordance with the Varanasi Civil Court’s order to continue the survey despite objections from the mosque authorities. The Muslim community had raised a lot of protests against the video survey, but their demands were dismissed.

After the conclusion of the survey, the Varanasi court ordered the District Magistrate of Varanasi, Kaushal Raj Sharma, "to seal the area where the Shivling was found and to bar people from going to the place." 

The civil court had appointed a court commissioner to conduct the survey and videography of the site and the same was challenged before Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the appeal on April 21. The court had also ordered that the survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid be completed before May 17.

Earlier today, the authorities conducting the survey notified the court that the videography of the mosque is now complete, and a detailed report regarding the same will be issued soon.

(With IANS inputs)

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