The Supreme Court in a landmark move today has granted permission to the Hindu Priest nominated by the esteemed Kashi Vishwanath Trust to persist in offering pooja at the Vyas Tehkana, situated within the precincts of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. 

This judicial pronouncement comes in the wake of a series of legal proceedings and contentious debates surrounding religious practices within this historically significant mosque.

Led by Chief Justice of India Chandrachud, the bench meticulously deliberated on the intricate legal nuances surrounding the issue at hand. The court, cognizant of the sensitivities involved, underscored the paramount importance of maintaining the prevailing status quo. 

In doing so, it seeks to ensure that both the Hindu and Muslim communities can freely exercise their respective religious rites without undue interference.

The court's decision was rendered against the backdrop of fervent arguments presented by both sides. Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, expressed apprehensions regarding the potential encroachment upon the sanctity of the Gyanvapi mosque.

Ahmadi underscored concerns that permitting Hindu pooja within the confines of the mosque could potentially pave the way for incremental encroachments upon its sacred space.

The Supreme Court's ruling, however, carefully delineates the parameters within which religious observances may take place. Specifically, it confines the Hindu pooja to the designated area of the Vyas Tehkana, thereby safeguarding the sanctity of the mosque's primary premises. Furthermore, the court emphatically stipulates that any alteration to this status quo shall only be permissible with the express permission of the Supreme Court itself.

This judicial decision represents the culmination of a protracted legal battle that has spanned multiple tiers of the Indian judiciary. Initially, the Varanasi District Court, on January 31, had granted permission for Hindu devotees to conduct worship within the Vyas Tehkana. Subsequently, the matter was escalated to the Allahabad High Court following an appeal from the mosque management committee.

Central to the legal proceedings was the plea filed by priest Shailendra Kumar Pathak, representing a familial legacy of religious observance within the Gyanvapi mosque. Pathak's plea sought legal affirmation of the right to conduct Hindu worship within the confines of the mosque's southern cellar, a practice historically upheld by his maternal grandfather until its cessation in 1993.

In rendering its verdict, the Supreme Court meticulously weighed the competing interests of both religious communities while upholding the principles of constitutional secularism and religious freedom. 

Case: Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Varanasi vs. Shailendra Kumar Pathak.