NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Hindu sect in the case related to the puja at Gyanvapi Masjid in connection to the appeal petition filed by the mosque committee. The mosque committee approached the Supreme Court questioning the Allahabad High Court's upholding of the district court order allowing Hindus to worship in the mosque.

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Hindu community but did not grant a stay to the Puja in the cellar. It stated that it would hear the final arguments in the case in July. As a result, the puja will continue inside the masjid for the time being. The court did not accept the demand of the mosque committee to stay the puja in the southern cellar of Gyanvapi. Pointing out that the Puja in cellar is not a hindrance to the mosque, the court clarified that both should continue concurrently. The recommendation came from a bench chaired by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud.

The High Court dismissed the appeal, stating that there was no need to interfere with the order of the district court which had allowed puja in the south basement of the Gyanvapi masjid. The district court made its decision after examining all the evidence. There are clear records that puja was performed in the cellar until 1993. The action of the then-state government, which blocked this, is illegal. The Vyas family's right to worship was denied, violating Article 25 of the Constitution, which protects freedom of worship, the order said.

The court rejected the mosque committee's contention that the cellars were not in the possession of the Vyas family. The High Court gave its verdict after hearing arguments for four days. The request for worship arose because of the presence of idols in the cellar on the south side below the masjid.