Indian Supreme Court: hindu-muslim coexistence at Gyanvapi Mosque

The Supreme Court of India made a decision on Monday regarding Hindu prayers in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, declining to issue a stay and requesting a response from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple trustees concerning a plea from the mosque management committee.

Additionally, the apex court ordered the maintenance of status quo regarding the offering of namaz by Muslims in the Gyanvapi premises in Varanasi.

In its observations, the Supreme Court bench noted, "Considering that namaz continues to be offered by the Muslim community in the Gyanvapi mosque unhindered, and Hindu puja is confined to the area of ‍‍`Tehkhana‍‍`, it is appropriate to maintain status quo to allow both communities to worship as per their customs."

The court entertained a fresh plea from the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, challenging an Allahabad High Court decision that upheld a lower court‍‍`s order permitting Hindu prayers in the southern cellar of the mosque.