A Varanasi Court on Monday dismissed the Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee’s plea, saying that a suit filed by five Hindu women seeking rights to worship the Hindu deities, whose idols are said to be located on an outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque is maintainable.
District Judge AK Vishvesh passed the order, ruling that the suit is not barred by the Places of Worship Act or Wakf Act.
Madan Mohan Yadav, the Hindu petitioner’s counsel claimed that the mosque, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, was constructed after demolishing the temple.
The Hindu women have sought a right to worship on the outer wall of the mosque complex located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.
The Anjuman Committee which manages the Gyanvapi mosque said that the mosque is a waqf property and has challenged the maintainability of the plea. It is also set to move to the high court.
Last month, district Judge AK Vishvesh reserved the order till 12 September.
The Supreme Court in July refused to hear a plea by the Hindu side asking for the carbon dating of the alleged ‘Shivling’ found on the premises of the Gyanvapi Mosque. It also directed them to withdraw their petition and follow through with their suit in the district court asking for the right to pray there.
The top court had also delayed hearing the main case relating to the Gyanvapi mosque by the Anjuman masjid committee, which challenged the orders of the civil judge appointing a survey commission and then sealing part of the mosque based on the claims about the alleged ‘Shivling’.
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
