Gyanvapi: Masjid Committee Moves Allahabad High Court to Halt Worship

The Muslim party has filed an appeal in the Allahabad High Court challenging the order reinstating Hindu worship in the Vyasji basement of Gyanvapi. Prior to this, they submitted an application in the district court, asserting that they are approaching the High Court against the District Court’s order, and requested an immediate halt to the worship in the basement.

On January 31, the Varanasi Court validated the Hindu claim, granting the right to worship in the Vyas basement of the Gyanvapi complex. Subsequently, the district administration facilitated the path for Hindu devotees, and the puja commenced that night. Senior police and administration officials of Varanasi were present during the initiation of the puja.

Upon learning about the begunning of puja, the Anjuman Masjid Arrangement Committee contacted their legal representatives in Delhi. The lawyers of muslim, after midnight, approached the Registrar General of the Supreme Court to file urgently petition. They argued for an immediate ban on Hindu worship in the Vyasji basement. This communication reportedly occurred around 3 AM. The Registrar General informed Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud about the urgent petition from the Muslim side.

After a while, the Registrar General relayed the CJI’s message to the lawyers of the Anjuman Masjid Arrangement Committee, advising them to appeal before the Allahabad High Court before approaching the Supreme Court. Attempts to seek intervention from the Supreme Court in the midnight hours were unsuccessful, resulting in a setback for the Muslim side.

As news of the puja in the basement of Vyasji spread in Varanasi, a long line of devotees formed. Given the situation’s sensitivity, the police administration deployed a significant number of armed forces, and paramilitary forces were instructed to remain vigilant.

Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer representing the Hindu side, revealed that he has filed a caveat in the Allahabad High Court. In case the Muslim parties appeal against the puja, all relevant facts will be presented to the Allahabad High Court. Jain mentioned that in 1993, then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, verbally ordered the Varanasi administration to forcefully stop the puja in the basement of Vyasji after the disputed structure’s collapse in Ayodhya. The worship was abruptly halted, and an iron fence closed the corridor leading to the temple.

Case number 34/2023 was filed in the Varanasi District Judge’s court for worship in the basement temple of Vyasji. On January 31, the District Judge reinstated the right to worship in the Vyasji basement.

Following the court order, barricades were removed overnight, and devotees began gathering for the puja early in the morning. The worship is being conducted under tight administrative security provided by the Kashi Vishwanath Trust Board.