Gyanvapi Masjid case: Varanasi district court adjourns next hearing till May 30

Pic courtesy: PTI

Varanasi: The Varanasi district court was hearing today (May 26) an application by the Muslim side seeking rejection of the civil suit's claims on Gyanvapi Mosque. The court has now adjourned the next hearing till Monday, May 30. Advocate Vishnu Jain, Hindu side's lawyer in the Gyanvapi mosque survey matter, said, "The Muslim side started their arguments but they could not be completed today. So, the arguments would continue at 2 pm on Monday (May 30)." He added, "Today, the Muslim side just read out paragraphs from our petition and tried to say that the petition isn't maintainable. We interjected and pointed out to the court that we've specific rights and all pleadings were made."

In the dispute, district and sessions judge AK Vishvesha was hearing the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee's plea challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by the Hindu parties. The court had also directed all concerned parties to file objections to the report submitted by the commission that surveyed the mosque premises. The court of District Judge AK Vishevesh, while fixing the hearing on the maintainability of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex case, said that the court will hear the matter as per directions of the Supreme Court.

On May 24, the court had asked both sides to file an objection to the commission report and submit the report within one week, said Hindu petitioners' Advocate Vishnu Jain. The Hindu side has alleged that a Shivling (a representation of Lord Shiva) was discovered inside the mosque premises and the Muslim side claimed that the structure was part of the fountain at the mosque's wuzu khana area.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, another civil suit was filed before a civil court in Varanasi, seeking the right to worship on the mosque premises. The suit, filed by one Kiran Singh, said the main case would take a considerable amount of time to be tried and that the Hindu worshippers should be given undeterred access to the mosque premises in the meantime. Significantly, on Wednesday, the civil judge in Varanasi transferred this suit to the fast-track civil court, which will hear the matter on May 30.

(With ANI inputs)