Gyanvapi Case, Varanasi : In a landmark judgment with potentially far-reaching consequences, the Varanasi district court on Wednesday (January 31) granted Hindus the right to worship inside a sealed basement of the Mughal-era-established Gyanvapi Mosque. The decision comes amid a years-long legal battle between the two communities over ownership of the disputed site, where Hindus claim there was a temple there before the construction of the mosque.
Gyanvapi Case : Key points of the order of the Honorable Varanasi Court
- Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesha directed the district administration to facilitate worship and other Hindu rituals within the southern basement (basement) of the mosque within seven days.
- The court ordered the administration to appoint a priest from the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust to perform rituals for the “idols” allegedly kept inside the basement.
- The decision is based on an application filed by local priest Shailendra Kumar Pathak, who claimed that his ancestors used to perform puja in the basement and sought permission from the court to resume the practice.
- Anjuman Anjamia Masjid, which manages the mosque, completely refuted the claims of Shailendra Kumar Pathak and the presence of any idol in the basement.
Gyanvapi Case : Possible implications
- The court’s decision is being seen as a historic victory by Hindu groups and a positive step towards regaining control of the Gyanvapi Mosque. He compares it to the opening of the Babri Masjid in 1986, which occurred before its demolition.
- Representatives of the Muslim community expressed disappointment and raised questions about the lack of evidence supporting Shailendra Kumar Pathak’s claims. Muslim parties can file their objections before the court before the next hearing on February 8.
- This development adds another layer of complexity to the already lengthy and contentious legal dispute over the Gyanvapi site.
Gyanvapi Case : Further references
- The ongoing legal battle centers on the claim that the Gyanvapi Mosque stands on the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century.
- An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report released earlier this month supported the presence of a pre-existing temple structure beneath the mosque.
- The decision comes after a series of court rulings in favor of the Hindu side, including the Allahabad High Court’s dismissal of petitions challenging the maintainability of a 1991 suit seeking the revival of the temple.
After this decision of the Honorable Court, religious tension may potentially increase and the government’s concerns regarding the security of Muslim places of worship in India may increase.