Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed plea of Gyanvapi Mosque committee, challenging order permitting Hindu parties to offer puja in the ‘vyas tehkhana’ of Gyanvapi complex.
“After going through the entire records of the case and after considering arguments of the parties concerned, the court did not find any ground to interfere in the judgment passed by the district judge dated 17.01.2024 appointing DM, Varanasi, as receiver of the property as well as the order dated 31.01.2024 by which the district court had permitted Puja in the Tehkhana,” Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal said.
Justice Agrawal pronounced the verdict 11 days after reserving judgment on the matter.
Last month, the Varanasi district court decided that a priest could conduct prayers in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque. The mosque’s basement contains four ‘tehkhanas’ (cellars), one of which remains under the ownership of the Vyas family.
Praising the decision, Advocate Prabhash remarked that it was a “big victory of the Sanatana Dharma”. “The judge dismissed the pleas that the Muslim side had filed against the District Judge’s order…It means that the puja will continue as it is. District Magistrate will continue as the Receiver of the ‘Tehkhana’…They (Muslim side) can go for a review of the decision. Puja will continue,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
A survey commissioned by the district court, conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in relation to a connected case, previously indicated that the mosque was built during Aurangzeb’s reign, utilising the remains of a Hindu temple.
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