A district court in Varanasi has completed the hearings of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case (no-693/2021 Rakhi Singh Vs UP government and others) on Monday and reserved a decision on it for Tuesday (May 24).
The hearing began in the court days after the Supreme Court said it would not interfere with the Gyanvapi mosque survey and transferred the case to the lower court, while noting the “complexities and sensitivities involved in the matter” would require a “more senior and experienced hand”.
The hearing got over in 45 minutes. Lawyers of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which managed the mosque, urged the court to decide first whether the Hindu petitioners’ case was maintainable under Places of Worship Act, 1991. Further, raising its objections, the Muslim side namaz was being offered there since 1936.
District government counsel (civil) Mahendra Prasad Pandey said the district judge court will on Monday make clear the points on which the hearing would start. Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court bench said District Judge should decide the maintainability of the civil suit in the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath on priority as sought by Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi.
A Varanasi court had directed the sealing of a spot in the complex after being told that a Shivalinga was found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque premises by the court-appointed advocate Commissioner during the survey.
A total of 7 demands have been placed on behalf of both the parties in the Varanasi court. The Hindu side has demanded that daily worship should be given in Shringar Gauri, permission should be given to worship the Shivling found in ‘Wazu Khana’, and the debris should be removed by breaking the wall in front of Nandi, and survey to know the length and width of Shivling.
On the other hand, the Muslim side has filed a petition and placed two demands before the court. The Muslim side has opposed the sealing of the ‘Wazu Khana’. Along with this, questions have been raised on the Gyanvapi survey and case under the 1991 Act. The Supreme Court has given 8 weeks to the Varanasi Court for a hearing and asked to complete the hearing within this time.
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