[Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath dispute] Fresh petition in Supreme Court seeks worship rights over Shivling

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking restoration of worship rights over the Shivling found by the court commissioner inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi..The matter was mentioned before a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli by Advocate Vishnu Jain."The appeal by Muslim side challenging survey is coming up on July 21. Please list this along with this matter," the counsel submitted.The Court agreed to hear the case on Thursday, July 21..The fresh petition filed through Advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain also calls for a direction to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust Board to take possession of the Shivling discovered during the court commissioner’s survey.Further, the petitioners prayed that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conduct a carbon dating of the Shivling in accordance with the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.Additionally, a direction was sought to the ASI to determine the nature of construction beneath the Shivling.In the meanwhile, the Central government was asked to be directed to install live streaming equipment for virtual darshan by devotees and performance of symbolic pooja..An appeal challenging the order of the Allahabad High Court permitting a court-appointed commissioner to inspect, conduct survey and videography of the mosque is pending before the Supreme Court. The appeal arises from a suit filed in a lower court by Hindu parties claiming that the mosque houses Hindu deities and that Hindus should be allowed to worship and do pooja at the site.The lower court had appointed a court commissioner to conduct a survey and videography of the site. The same was challenged before the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the appeal on April 21.Subsequently, the Masajid Committee filed a plea before the lower court claiming that the court commissioner was biased and should be replaced.The same was dismissed, paving the way for the survey..In May, a Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and PS Narasimha had transferred the case being heard by the Civil Judge, Varanasi to a senior and experienced judicial officer of UP judicial services, in light of the sensitivity of the matter..[BREAKING] Supreme Court transfers Gyanvapi suit from Civil Judge to District Judge.Read details on the survey report submitted by the advocate commissioner here.