Gyanvapi row: HC reserves verdict on plea against court's order for survey

The Allahabad High Court reserved its verdict on a petition challenging a Varanasi court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex

The Allahabad High Court on Monday reserved its verdict on a petition challenging a Varanasi court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

Justice Prakash Padia reserved judgment on the petition filed by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee that manages the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, after hearing the parties concerned.

On April 8, 2021, a Varanasi court had directed the ASI to conduct a comprehensive survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex.

The masjid committee and UP Sunni Central Waqf Board filed the petition in the high court challenging the order of the Varanasi court. Subsequently, the high court had on September 9, 2021 stayed the lower court order.

On November 11 this year, senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan appearing for plaintiff (Hindu side) of the suit pending before a Varanasi court argued that for reaching a logical conclusion, the inquiry should be done.

In this matter, the survey shall be done by the ASI to bring out prima facie truth as watching the disputed premises with naked eyes, it is clear that this is part of the temple and the proceedings of survey should be continued," he had said.

The case pertains to an original suit filed in 1991 by Hindu petitioners in the Varanasi district court.

The original suit sought the restoration of the ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple at the site where the Gyanvapi mosque currently stands. The petitioners claimed in the suit that the mosque was a part of the temple.