The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the plea by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC) challenging the administrative decision of the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice to transfer the Gyanvapi case from a single-judge bench that had been hearing it since 2021.
The single-judge bench was handling the plea that questioned the suit’s validity, seeking the restoration of a temple at the location where the Gyanvapi mosque stands in Varanasi, reported PTI.
Also Read:Gyanvapi case: A complete timeline of events
After hearing the submissions by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the mosque committee, the bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, declared, “Dismissed.”
The bench highlighted that they should not interfere with the decision of the High Court’s Chief Justice as it is a common practice in high courts and falls under the chief justice’s jurisdiction.
“We should not interfere with the order of the chief justice of the high court…In high courts, it is a very standard practice. This must lie in the realm of the chief justice of the high court,” the bench said.
Also Read:Supreme Court refuses to stay scientific survey of Gyanvapi mosque premises
The AIMC had contested the case’s transfer from the single-judge bench to another bench by the high court’s chief justice. Before dismissing the plea, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) reviewed the grounds for the transfer but chose not to read them in open court.
On October 30, the Allahabad High Court adjourned the hearing until November 8 on the AIMC’s petition. Additionally, on November 2, a Varanasi court granted the Archaeological Survey of India an extension until November 17.
This extension was provided after the ASI stated that it had “completed” the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex but needed more time to draft the report, which was initially due on November 6.
(With PTI Inputs)