Plea In Supreme Court Seeks Permission To Worship Shivling Said To Have Been Found In Gyanvapi Mosque

The petition has been preferred by Rajesh Mani Tripathi who is the President of the Krishna Janma Bhumi Mukti Dal.

"Applicant wishes to perform their religious practices as guaranteed under the Constitution of India, on the "Shiv Linga" found during the survey conducted in pursuance to the order passed by the concerned Court of Varanasi. It is a matter of record that the said "Shiv Linga" found during the survey has duly been protected vide the order passed by the concerned court," the plea stated.

It is also stated in the plea that though the said Shiv linga has been protected by the Top Court's order but still there is no restrictions to bhaktas, devotees of Lord Shiva to offer puja's and perform rituals at the said place.

On May 20, Top Court had directed for continuation of its interim order dated May 17 by which it clarified that the Varanasi Court's order to protect the spot where a "shivling" was claimed to have been found would not restrict the right of Muslims to access the mosque to offer namaz and to perform religious observances. The Supreme Court had also transferred the suit filed by Hindu women seeking right to worship deities in the masjid premises to the Varanasi District Court from the Civil Judge Junior Division. The hearing of the case is progressing in the District Court.

Case Title: Rajesh Mani Tripathi v State of UP & Ors