Allahabad HC dismisses PIL seeking Gyanvapi Mosque sealing, Non-Hindu entry ban

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the UP government to seal the entire Gyanvapi premises without affecting the ASI survey order of the Varanasi court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Pritinker Diwakar and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava, dismissed the PIL after the petitioner’s counsel expressed their intention to approach the appropriate forum and file an application for the sought reliefs.

The PIL, jointly filed by Jitendra Singh Visen, the chief of the Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh, and Rakhi Singh, one of the Hindu women worshippers who lodged a plea in the Varanasi court to secure year-long worshipping rights at the Gyanvapi Mosque, also urged for the prohibition of entry of non-Hindus into the Gyanvapi Mosque premises.

Presently, the ASI is carrying out a survey at the Gyanvapi Mosque pursuant to an order from the Varanasi District Court. This came after the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque, challenged the scientific survey contention, asserting opposition to the survey.

The Varanasi District Court rejected their stance and directed ASI to proceed with the survey.

Despite subsequent challenges to the Varanasi District Court’s decision in both the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court by the Masjid Committee, they were unable to obtain relief from either court.

Furthermore, the High Court instructed ASI to conduct the survey without excavation or harm to the structure. The Supreme Court upheld this directive, specifying that the ASI’s survey would employ non-invasive techniques. The ASI survey report is expected to be submitted to the High Court and further proceedings will be conducted during the trial.

The Varanasi District Court’s decision regarding the ASI survey was prompted by the plea of Hindu women worshippers, who asserted the necessity of a scientific survey to ascertain the presence of a temple at the Gyanvapi Mosque location.

These Hindu women worshippers have sought year-long permission for worshipping activities at the Gyanvapi Mosque premises.