Gyanvapi: Allahabad HC Adjourns Hearing on Plea Challenging Hindu Prayers in Cellar

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on a plea challenging the Varanasi district court’s order allowing Hindu prayers in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque to February 12, 2024.

A single bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal heard arguments from both the Hindu and Muslim sides regarding the Gyanvapi mosque committee’s appeal and scheduled further proceedings for February 12.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid, responsible for overseeing the affairs of the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, filed the plea last Friday.

On Tuesday, senior advocate SFA Naqvi, representing the Muslim side, contended that the district judge, A K Vishvesha, granted final relief sought in the suit at the initial stage, which he argued was impermissible. Naqvi also raised concerns about the timing of the order, as it was passed on the day of the judge’s retirement.

Judge A K Vishvesha retired from service on January 31.

Representing the Hindu side, Vishnu Shankar Jain argued on Tuesday that the court order for appointing a receiver was issued on January 17, while the order allowing puja was issued on January 31.

The mosque committee approached the high court on February 2, shortly after the Supreme Court declined to hear its plea against the Varanasi district court order, directing them to seek recourse in the high court instead.

The Varanasi district court, on January 31, ruled that a priest could conduct prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque.