April 1, 2024: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stop the Hindu prayers in the southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, ordered the parties to maintain status quo on the religious observances by the Hindus inside the mosque premises.

As per sources, the bench said, “Bearing in mind the fact that the Namaz is offered by Muslim community unhindered after the orders dated Jan 17 and Jan 31 and the offering of pooja by Hindu priest is confined to the area of Tehkhana, it is appropriate to maintain status quo so as to enable both the communities to offer worships in the above terms”.

The Court said that Hindus will enter from south and pray in cellar and Muslims will pray in northern side as they enter from there. Therefore, this arrangement will continue till the case is finally decided.