The Hindu side has encountered a setback in the ongoing legal battle regarding the Gyanvapi Mosque, adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. On Friday, the Varanasi court dismissed a petition aimed at prohibiting Muslims from offering namaz (prayers) on the roof of the Vyas basement, a key focal point in the dispute. This ruling permits Muslims to continue their prayer gatherings at the site and also denies any requests for repair work in the basement.
Civil Judge (Senior Division) Hitesh Agarwal delivered the ruling, affirming the current status of worship activities in the Vyas basement and rejecting the custodian of the basement, the District Magistrate (DM) of Varanasi’s request for repairs. Consequently, the court turned down the Hindu side’s petition, which sought to halt Muslim gatherings and allow for repairs.
The court’s decision followed a review of objections raised by the Muslim side and acknowledged that a related matter is still pending before the Supreme Court. As such, the court opted to maintain the status quo on the issue.
It is worth noting that a petition had been filed by a Hindu organization in January, which sought to secure the right to worship in the Vyasji basement and prohibit Muslim gatherings there; however, this request has now been rejected by the court.
The court’s ruling to uphold the current state of affairs at the Gyanvapi site represents a significant development in this high-profile legal case, ensuring that Muslims can continue their prayer gatherings while denying the Hindu side’s requests for restrictions and repairs.
