Varanasi: A city court has rejected the plea filed by the Hindu side seeking a direction to the Varanasi district magistrate, who is the local custodian of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, to repair the basement of Vyas ji, which is located within the premises of Gyanvapi mosque complex.
Court upheld the ongoing worship activities in the basement of Vyas Ji
The court of Civil Judge Senior Division Hitesh Agarwal, while upholding the ongoing worship activities in the basement of Vyas Ji, rejected the prayer of the Hindu side taking into account the objections raised by the Muslim side and a pending petition before the Supreme Court.
Court’s order was based on Muslim side’s opposition for repairs and ongoing proceedings before apex court: Hindu side counsel
Madan Mohan Yadav, the counsel representing the Hindu side, told news agency PTI that the ruling of the Varanasi court was was based on the opposition of the Muslim side for repairs in the ‘Vyas ji ka tehkhana’ and the ongoing legal proceedings in the Supreme Court. Despite the decision of the court, the Hindu side plans to appeal before the court of the district judge for permission to repair the basement, Yadav added.
Muslim worshippers walking on the roof of the basement could pose a risk of collapse, Hindu side argued
Yadav further stated that worship in Vyas ji’s basement resumed on January 31 following the order of the court, allowing devotees to view the installed idols in Vyas Ji’s basement, however, concerns were expressed by the Hindu side over the safety of the basement due to the old and weak roof of the basement and sought the intervention of the court for repair work of the roof. The Hindu side argued that the Muslim worshippers walking on the roof of the basement could pose a risk of collapse and demanded that the roof and pillars be repaired.
Varanasi court earlier allowed Hindu side plea to offer prayers at southern cellar
The Varanasi District Court had on January 17 appointed the Varanasi District Magistrate receiver of the basement of Vyas Ji on a plea filed by Hindu priest Shailendra Kumar Pathak and by an order dated January 31 allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers before idols at the basement of Vyas Ji.