varanasi-court-grants-hindu-faction-access-to-sealed-gyanvapi-mosque-cellars-for-prayers-pooja-to-commence-in-7-days

A Varanasi District Court has permitted the Hindu faction to conduct prayers at 10 sealed cellars within the premises of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The court's decision, announced on Wednesday, follows the discovery of multiple Hindu idols in the mosque's basement.

According to the court directive, arrangements will be made by the receiver for the pooja, to be performed by the Hindu side, along with a poojari nominated by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. The court has mandated that the pooja commence within the next seven days, ensuring the right for everyone to participate.

The lawyer representing the Hindu faction, Vishnu Shankar Jain stated, "Puja will start within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform Puja."

Counsel for the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee Akhlaque Ahmad, expressed intentions to challenge the order in a higher court. The court has scheduled February 8 as the date for the hearing on an application filed by the mosque committee, urging the dismissal of the plea.

This development unfolds a day after four Hindu women approached the Supreme Court, seeking excavation and a scientific survey of a sealed section within the mosque. 

The request comes in the aftermath of an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report, which concluded the existence of a large Hindu temple predating the mosque's construction.

The petition to the Supreme Court emphasised, "It is submitted that for a proper and effective investigation, it is necessary that the ASI may be directed to undertake necessary excavation and use other scientific methods around the Shivlingam (being claimed by Muslims as a fountain) for determining the nature of Shivlingam and associated features without causing any damage to the object after removing artificial/modern walls/floors surrounding the Shivlingam."