Latest LIVE: Court rules suit by Hindu side in Gyanvapi case maintainable

India on Monday recorded 5,221 new Covid-19 cases, taking the nation’s tally of the pandemic to 44,500,580. With 15 new deaths, including four more reconciled by Kerala, India’s toll from the Covid-19 pandemic has reached 528,165. India’s tally of cured Covid cases stands at 43,925,239 after 5,975 people recovered the from disease in the last 24 hours.

A district court will announce the order in the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri case. Ahead of District Judge AK Vishvesh’s order in the communally sensitive matter, prohibitory orders were clamped and security was tightened in Varanasi. Five women had filed the petition seeking permission for daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols are said to be located on an outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has said the Gyanvapi mosque is a Waqf property and has questioned the maintainability of the plea. The case is being heard by the district court following an apex court order.

Addressing his first rally after quitting the Congress party last month, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said he will not mislead the people over the issue of Article 370 as only a government with a two-thirds majority in Parliament can ensure the restoration of the provision. “Azad knows what can and cannot be done. I or the Congress party or three regional parties cannot give you back Article 370, neither can (TMC chief) Mamata Banerjee, or DMK or (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar,” Azad said in Kashmir Valley. The former Union minister said he will not raise issues over which he has no control.