Guwahati: A Varanasi court rejected a request from the Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee on Monday that questioned the complaint filed by five Hindu women demanding the right to pray inside the Gyanvapi mosque grounds as being maintainable.
The Gyanvapi Shringar Gauri dispute case was decided by district judge AK Vishvesh, who scheduled a hearing for September 22.
Hindu side’s attorney Vishnu Shankar Jain stated, “The court dismissed the Muslim side’s motion and said the litigation is maintainable. The case will be heard again on September 22.
A petitioner in the Gyanvapi case, Sohan Lal Arya remarked, “It’s a win for the Hindu community. The following hearing will take place on September 22. It serves as the temple of Gyanvapi’s cornerstone. Encourage everyone to keep the peace.
The Hindu side had previously stated that they would request an investigation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the carbon dating of the “Shivling” if the ruling was in their favour.
Advocate Jain was quoted by ANI as saying, “Today the court will deliver its judgement on the maintainability of the suit. Worship Act of 1991 is in our favour. If the verdict is in our favour, we will request an ASI survey and a Shivling carbon dating.
Arya said, “Moreover, the Hindu community around the world will have a very joyous day on this day. We have prayed for Lord Shiva’s “darshan” in the morning, and the court will announce its decision at 2:00 PM. After the judgement, there will be “darshan.” The citizens of Kashi clap and ring bells to celebrate when the decision is in our favour. Kashi residents will try to reawaken Hindu society.”
Five women had petitioned for permission to regularly worship Hindu gods, whose idols are allegedly located on the exterior wall of the Gyanvapi mosque, which is close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Following orders to conduct video survey of the complex, it was completed on May 16 and the report was presented in the court on May 19. Following the survey, the Hindu side asserted that a Shivling-like structure had been discovered inside the complex, but the Masjid committee denied this, claiming that it was actually a fountain.
Advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was appointed commissioner by Varanasi court to survey the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex but was later removed for leaking the information said, “Several sculptures of gods and goddesses alongwith other structures related to Hindu belief were seen in the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.
The report by Mishra also mentioned that the three-four sculptures with Sindoor marks and ‘Choukhat’ like stone slab are believed to be ‘Sringar Gouri’.
However, questioning the maintainability of the plea, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has said the Gyanvapi mosque is a Waqf property.