On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered directed the District Magistrate of Varanasi to ensure protection of the area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where a 'Shivling' is said to have been found in the survey and allowed Muslims to offer ‘Namaz’ and perform “religious observances”. The ruling is being considered significant amid a row regarding the history of the mosque and whether or not it was built after razing a Hindu temple.