1 Feb 2024 9:01 AM GMT
The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (which manages Gyanvpai mosque in Varanasi) has moved the Allahabad High Court challenging the Varanasi District Court's yesterday order which allowed Hindus to perform prayers in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque.
The matter was mentioned before the Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta by senior advocate SFA Naqvi. The ACJ asked him to move an urgent listing plea before the Registrar Listing. Accordingly, an application has been moved before the Registrar Listing. The matter is likely to be taken up soon.
The development comes a day after the Supreme Court refused to urgently hear the Mosque Committee's plea against the order allowing puja in Vyas Ji ka Tehkhana, located at the southern cellar of the Mosque.
It may be noted that the Varanasi District Judge yesterday directed the District Administration to make appropriate arrangements within 7 days for Hindus to conduct worshipping rituals inside one of the sealed cellars/basement/tahkhana (vyas ji ka tehkhana) inside the existing Gyanvapi mosque complex. Worship at this spot was stopped in the year 1993.
The matter relates to 'Somnath Vyas' tehkhana inside Gyanvapi Mosque premises. Until 1993, the Vyas family conducted religious ceremonies in the basement. However, in compliance with a directive from the state government, the religious practices were discontinued.
The operative part of the order reads thus:
"District Magistrate, Varanasi / receiver is directed to get puja, raga-blog performed of idols located in the southern cellar of #GyanvapiMosque (suit property), through a priest nominated by Kashi Vishwanath Trust Board & plaintiff. For this purpose, make proper arrangements of iron fencing etc. in 7 days"
As per a report of Indian Express, shortly after the Varanasi District Judge's order, the District Magistrate MS Rajalingam, along with other government officials, entered the mosque complex through gate number 4 of the Kashi Corridor and the officials spent around two hours inside the complex. While leaving the premises, the DM told the media present outside that the court order had been complied with.
In its application, the mosque committee has contended that the administration was acting in 'hot haste' soon after the Varanasi Court's order to allow the pooja at night itself. The application further argues that these actions, occurring in the middle of the night, aimed to preempt any legal challenge by the mosque managing committee.