Puja in Gyanwapi: SC asks Masjid committee to approach Allahabad HC

The Supreme Court has instructed the Gyanvapi Masjid committee to approach the Allahabad High Court regarding a recent order by a Varanasi district court. The order states that a Hindu priest is allowed to perform prayers before idols in a cellar of the mosque. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee's lawyers have urgently sought a hearing from the Supreme Court registrar, who advised them to approach the high court as per Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud's instructions.

The lawyers argue that the local administration is hastily deploying a large police force and cutting grills at the mosque's southern side, despite having a week to make necessary arrangements. They believe this is an attempt to prevent the Mosque Managing Committee from challenging the order. The district court's ruling allows a nominated priest from the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust, along with the petitioner claiming his grandfather performed prayers at the cellar until 1993, to conduct prayers at regular intervals.

The court has given the local administration seven days to make the necessary arrangements for prayers in the cellar. This ruling follows the release of an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report, which suggests that the mosque was built during Aurangzeb's rule on the remains of a Hindu temple. The Varanasi court's previous order had directed the district magistrate to take charge of the cellar, but did not address the right to offer prayers there.


After the Varanasi Court granted permission for Hindu devotees to conduct prayers within the Gyanvapi mosque complex, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, announced that daily worship has commenced in the 'Vyas parivar Tehkhana.'

"In adherence to the Varanasi Court's directive, the State government and district administration have made adjustments to the barricades, and daily rituals are now being performed in the 'Vyas parivar Tehkhana,'" stated Advocate Jain during an interview with ANI on Thursday.

He further remarked, "The swiftness with which the state government halted the puja reflects its promptness in complying with the court's order."

This development follows the Varanasi court's decision on Wednesday, allowing Hindu devotees to offer prayers within the 'Vyas Ka Tekhana' area located inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

Advocate Sohan Lal Arya mentioned that arrangements have been put in place, but as of now, 'Vyas Ka Tekhana' has not been opened to the devotees.

Expressing their joy, devotees welcomed the Varanasi Court's decision.