Varanasi Court to Hear Plea Against ‘Puja’ Inside Gyanvapi Complex on Feb 15

Varanasi: A Varanasi court has scheduled February 15 for the hearing of the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee’s plea seeking a halt on worship in the cellar of Gyanvapi mosque, according to counsel for the Hindu side, Advocate M M Yadav.

District Judge Anil Kumar informed the court that since the Allahabad High Court is set to address the matter on February 12, it would be redundant for the district court to proceed now. The court consequently postponed the matter to February 15, as reported by PTI.

Previously, on January 31, the Varanasi district court had granted permission for puja (prayers) in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. This decision was followed by the performance of prayers by a priest on the same night.

The cellar, referred to by Hindu plaintiffs as ‘Vyasji ka tehkhana’ (Vyasji’s cellar), is an integral part of the mosque complex.

The Varanasi court’s ruling was prompted by a report from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) indicating the existence of a Hindu temple before the construction of the Gyanvapi mosque.

The ASI report highlighted evidence such as architectural remains, inscriptions, and artefacts, suggesting the presence of a Hindu temple before the mosque’s construction. It also noted that the mosque was built during the reign of Aurangzeb in the 17th century, with parts of the pre-existing structure possibly repurposed in its construction.

The mosque committee subsequently challenged the order in the Supreme Court, which directed them to file the challenge in the Allahabad High Court, where the case is currently under review.