Gyanvapi Case To Continue In Varanasi Court, Matter Is "Valid": High Court
NDTV
The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea from the Muslim committee challenging the maintainability of a civil suit filed by Hindu women worshippers seeking the right to worship inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. The court's decision allows the case to continue in a local Varanasi court.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid (AIM) Committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board had petitioned the high court to dismiss the case, arguing that it is not maintainable under the Places of Worship Act of 1991 and the Central Waqf Act of 1995. Their challenge was against the decision of the District Judge of Varanasi, who had previously dismissed their objection to the suit.
The civil suit in question was filed by Rakhi Singh and nine others, including five women, in the Varanasi court. They were seeking the regular worship of Shringar Gauri in the Gyanvapi mosque, a proposition that has led to significant controversy. The Allahabad High Court, after hearing the arguments, had reserved its decision on December 23, 2022.
This dispute has been in the courts since April 2021, when the Varanasi court directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a comprehensive survey of the mosque complex.
