Varanasi court says Hindu side’s plea for worship in Gyanvapi mosque maintainable

The district court in Varanasi on Monday rejected the Anjuman Committee’s plea challenging Hindu worshippers’ request for permission for daily worship of Hindu deities in the Gyanvapi mosque.

A single bench of district Judge AK Vishvesh delivering the verdict in the Gyanvapi Shrinagar Gauri dispute case holds case is maintainable.

The Anjuman Intezamia Committee that represents the Muslim side is set to move to the high court.

Man Bhadur Singh, counsel of the Hindu side who represents one of the plaintiff in the maintainability of the suit, said the plea of Muslim side has been rejected.

Earlier in the day, an alert had been sounded in all sensitive areas of Uttar Pradesh in view of the court ruling. Police said patrolling is on. “Peace being ensured. Religious heads have issued statements asking for peace to be maintained,” said ADG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar.

A day ago, the administration in Varanasi had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and deployed additional police forces in areas where people from both communities live.

The district judge had last month reserved the order till September 12 in the communally sensitive matter.