INDIA: The Varanasi court adjourned the hearing of the Gyanvapi Masjid case till July 12. Advocate Abhay Nath Yadav, representing the Muslims on the case, has put forth 47 arguments out of 51 in the court. The lawyer has to present five more arguments in order to win over the plea. He argued on all the cases and issues related to Gyanvapi Mosque from 1669. Both pre and post-independence history of the place were discussed in detail.
Advocate Vishnu Jain, representing the Hindu side in the Masjid survey matter, said: “The Muslim side has given its arguments, the date for the next hearing is July 12, keeping in mind everyone’s convenience. The Muslim side to keep its arguments on law-point in front of the court then.”
Only about 40 persons, including lawyers and litigants, were permitted into the courtroom . The responsibility was given to the police deployed for the coveted hearing of the case. No other person including the media was allowed entry.
“The Muslim side has given its arguments, the date for the next hearing is July 12, keeping in mind everyone’s convenience. The Muslim side to keep its arguments on law-point in front of the court then.” said Vishnu Jain
The case gained momentum on the plea of five Hindu women from Delhi to worship the Shrangar Gauri Sthal within the Kashi Vishwanath Gyanvapi Mosque complex.The court is all set to hear the arguments of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (Mosque Management Committee) who challenged the maintainability of a petition seeking permission to offer prayers to Shringar Gauri and other deities in the Gyanvapi Masjid complex.
What is the case all about?
A petition was filed in a court in Varanasi in the year 1991 that claimed that the Gyanvapi Mosque was built after demolishing a part of the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple. Moreover, the local pandas (priests) and other petitioners filed a suit to seek permission to worship in the mosque complex. They had also requested the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey finding out the reality of the mosque, to which the Allahabad High Court had put a stay on in the year 2019.
In the recent developments of the case, a petition was filed by five women from Delhi who sought permission to regularly offer prayers to the Hindu deity idols present on the outer walls of the mosque. About which, a court-mandated videography and survey team was appointed to submit a detailed report on the matter.
This again sparked conflict and the Muslim side of the case pointed fingers saying the judgement of the appointed team was biased. In return, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee moved the Supreme Court in a bid to issue a stay on the survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi Masjid complex.
The videography and survey of the mosque was carried out under strict security. On the last day of the survey, the Hindu side claimed to locate a shivling (a representation of Lord Shiva) in the ablution pond. On the contrary, the other side claims it is a part of the structure of the pond.
The opposing party referred to Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991. As per the law, no one can file a suit or initiate any other legal procedure for conversion of any religious character of any place of worship in the country.
Also Read: Varanasi Court to Hear Gyanvapi Mosque Suit Today
