The court also declined a plea to allow the district magistrate of Varanasi to undertake any repair work at the cellar
NEW DELHI — In a significant ruling, a Varanasi court on Friday rejected a petition by the Hindu side to stop Muslims from offering ‘namaz’ on the roof of the Gyanvapi Mosque’s ‘tehkhana’ (cellar).
The court of Civil Judge Senior Division Hitesh Agarwal Hitesh Agarwal also declined a plea to allow the district magistrate of Varanasi to undertake any repair work at the cellar. It, however, said that ‘puja’ would continue in the cellar. The court had earlier reserved its order on the matter.
Notably, the pleas were filed by Jan Udghosh, a social organisation of Lucknow, Rakhi Singh, and others. They had sought a ban on the entry of Muslims on the roof of the cellar, contending that it was too weak to withstand the weight of so many people.
The Hindu side had also sought permission to undertake repair works in the cellar, citing water leakage from its roof.
On the other hand, the Muslim petitioner opposed the pleas, arguing that Muslims had been offering prayers on the roof of the cellar for many years.
In January, the court had allowed the Hindus to perform ‘puja’ in the basement, which is beneath the Gyanvapi Mosque on its southern side.
With the court’s refusal to grant their demands, the Hindu petitioners plan to take the matter to the district court. Both communities continue to observe their respective religious practices within the premises, albeit under heightened scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the court of Additional District Judge Awadhesh Kumar is hearing a petition against making some Hindus party in the Urs (festival) and Chadar Poshi case on the mausoleum in the Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
The petition was filed by Lohta resident Mukhtar Ahmed against the order of a lower court. Apart from this, the case of Kriti Washeshwar Mahadev temple located at Hartirth will also be heard in the court of Civil Judge Junior Division. — Agencies
