In a landmark decision, a district judge in Varanasi, on his last working day before retirement, allowed Hindus to worship inside a sealed basement of the Mughal-era Gyanvapi Masjid. The ruling could have far-reaching consequences in the ongoing legal battle between Hindu plaintiffs and Muslims over the Gyanvapi Masjid-Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The court’s decision permits Hindu priests and devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to access and perform puja inside the tehkhana (cellar) of the mosque. The Hindu plaintiffs, seeking religious rights and ultimate possession of the mosque from Muslims, hailed the order as a victory, drawing parallels to the controversial unlocking of the Babri Masjid in 1986, which eventually led to its demolition in 1992.
The caretakers of the Gyanvapi Masjid expressed shock, arguing that the court accepted temple-side claims without demanding evidence. The court’s decision follows the Archaeological Survey of India’s recent report, asserting the existence of a “large Hindu temple” at the site before the construction of the mosque.
District judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha directed the district administration to facilitate puja and other Hindu activities inside the southern tehkhana within seven days. The order, based on an application filed by a local priest, Shailendra Kumar Pathak, claimed rights to worship specific deities in the mosque’s cellar.
Despite vehement denials from the mosque caretakers, the judge ruled in favor of the Hindu plaintiff, instructing the administration to install iron fencing for the purpose of puja. The district magistrate had earlier taken control of the cellar in response to the court’s directive.
Notably, the court order has been hailed by Hindu lawyers as a historic moment, akin to the 1986 decision related to the Babri Masjid. However, the mosque committee and its supporters expressed dismay, questioning the lack of evidence and vowing to challenge the decision in the Allahabad High Court.
Security measures were enforced as the district administration followed the court’s order to allow puja in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The actions were taken in compliance with the court’s directive and sparked mixed reactions from different sections of society.
The Gyanvapi case involves Hindu litigants claiming that the mosque was built on the site of the earlier Kashi Vishwanath temple, destroyed in the 17th century. The ASI’s survey report supports this claim, stating that a Hindu temple existed before the construction of the current mosque.
As tensions rise and legal battles continue, the next hearing is scheduled for February 8, allowing the mosque side to file objections. The court’s decision, reminiscent of historical disputes, marks a significant development in the ongoing saga over religious sites in India.