Today, On 10th December, The Allahabad High Court adjourned the hearing on a plea requesting a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque’s ‘wazukhana’ area to December 17. The plea is part of ongoing legal disputes over the site, which includes the reported discovery of a structure some claim to be a ‘shivling.’ The court is reviewing the demand for a scientific survey in the contested area. The case remains a focal point in the broader Gyanvapi mosque row.
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court postponed the hearing of a petition challenging a Varanasi court’s decision regarding the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and the ‘wazukhana’ area of the Gyanvapi mosque until December 17.
This decision came after the court informed that a related case is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court on December 16.
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Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal issued the order in response to a civil revision filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs in the Shringar Gauri worship case in Varanasi.
Singh’s revision challenges the Varanasi district judge’s October 21 order, which denied the ASI permission to survey the ‘wazukhana‘ area, except for the ‘shivling’ located within the mosque.
In her plea, Singh argued that surveying the ‘wazukhana‘ is essential for justice and could benefit both plaintiffs and defendants, aiding the court in reaching an informed decision. She pointed out that non-invasive methods could be employed for the survey, as previously permitted by the Supreme Court.
The Gyanvapi mosque management committee filed a counter affidavit stating that issues regarding the ‘wazukhana‘ and the alleged ‘shivling‘ are already under consideration by the Supreme Court.
Notably, the ASI has previously conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex and submitted its findings to the Varanasi district judge.
The Gyanvapi Mosque, situated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is a significant religious site adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and has been embroiled in legal and historical controversies regarding its origins. It is believed that the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century, reportedly following the demolition of part of the original Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
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In recent years, the mosque has been at the center of multiple legal disputes, notably the Shringar Gauri worship case. This case involves Hindu plaintiffs who seek permission to worship certain deities within the mosque, particularly in the wazukhana area, where a structure has been identified by some as a “shivling” following a survey. This discovery has sparked additional legal challenges and calls for scientific, non-invasive investigations to determine the nature of the found structure.
The matter has been addressed in the Supreme Court, the Allahabad High Court, and various local courts in Varanasi. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has also been assigned to conduct studies related to the mosque, often facing pushback from the mosque’s management committee. Prominent legal figures, including Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, have been involved in overseeing the proceedings and related issues.