Varanasi District Court Consolidates All Gyanvapi Dispute Cases for Joint Hearing

Varanasi: The Varanasi District Court has made a significant decision regarding the Gyanvapi dispute by ruling that all seven related cases will be consolidated and heard together. This move comes after a group of four Hindu petitioners requested the merger of these cases, citing the benefits of saving time, money and avoiding potential legal complications.

In August 2021, five women initiated a petition in the local court seeking permission to engage in regular worship at the Shringar Gauri site situated within the Gyanvapi Masjid premises.

Subsequently, in April 2022, a senior division court ordered a survey of the mosque grounds, which concluded in May 2022. During the survey, a Shivling, a symbolic representation of Lord Shiva, was purportedly discovered in the mosque complex. However, the Muslim side contended that it was a fountain.

Regarding the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath corridor, the Supreme Court intervened in the matter on May 19. It directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to halt the carbon dating process of the ‘Shivling’ until the next hearing.

Notably, on May 16, the Supreme Court accepted a petition filed by lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side. The court instructed the Gyanvapi mosque committee to submit its response to the plea by May 19. The next hearing in this ongoing dispute is scheduled for August 7.