Gyanvapi mosque: Allahabad HC reserves order on plea against decision to allow Hindu prayers in cellar

A view of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Dham and Gyanvapi Masjid complex in Varanasi. File pic/PTI

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday reserved its order on a plea challenging the Varanasi district court's decision to allow Hindu prayers in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal heard the appeal filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee, which looks after the affairs of the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, and reserved its order, committee's lawyer S F A Naqvi said, reported news wire PTI.

"The hearing of the matter is complete and the court has reserved its order," Naqvi added.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee had moved to the High Court on February 2, within hours of the Supreme Court refused to hear its plea against the Varanasi district court order. Supreme Court had asked the petitioner to approach the High Court.

The committee moved to the court challenging the Varanasi district court's order given on January 31 allowing priest to perform prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque.

The Allahabad High Court on Monday, February 12 had adjourned the hearing on the plea till February 15. The bench had heard Punit Gupta and SFA Naqvi, counsels for the Muslim side, at length and fixed February 15 as the next date of hearing in the matter on Naqvi's request, as per PTI report.

Meanwhile, prayers were performed in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque on the same night following court orders allowing the resumption of a practice set to have being discontinued three decades back. "Vyas ji's cellar was opened after 31 years for prayers," temple trust president Nagendra Pandey told PTI. He said the southern cellar was opened at around 10.30 pm on January 31 after the court order.

On the other hand, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had said after the court order that the Varanasi district court decision in the Gyanvapi mosque case allowing Hindu prayers in the cellar of the masjid was taken in "haste" and said it would pursue the matter right up to the Supreme Court to get justice.

As per PTI report, several Muslim organisations under the umbrella of All India Muslim Personal Law Board also said the Places of Worship Act, 1991 should be implemented in letter and spirit to prevent disputes arising in the country.

(With PTI Inputs)