Allahabad High Court Reserves Order on Controversial Varanasi Mosque Decision

The Allahabad High Court has concluded hearings and reserved its decision on a contentious plea challenging the Varanasi district court’s ruling permitting Hindu prayers in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque. The appeal was filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee, the governing body responsible for the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

According to SFA Naqvi, the lawyer representing the committee, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal presided over the hearings and reserved the court’s order after considering the arguments presented by both sides. Naqvi further confirmed that the proceedings had concluded, and the court was deliberating on the matter.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee initiated legal action by approaching the high court on February 2, swiftly following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of its plea against the Varanasi district court’s decision. The Supreme Court directed the committee to address its concerns through the Allahabad High Court, prompting the expedited filing.

On January 31, the Varanasi district court issued a controversial ruling allowing a priest to conduct prayers before the idols situated in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque. This decision has fueled significant debate and drawn attention to the delicate balance between religious rights and legal jurisdiction in India.

The dispute over the use of the cellar space within the Gyanvapi mosque has intensified tensions in Varanasi, a city revered by Hindus and Muslims alike for its cultural and spiritual significance. The legal battle underscores broader issues of religious coexistence and communal harmony that resonate throughout the country.

As the Allahabad High Court deliberates on the matter, stakeholders await its verdict, which is anticipated to have far-reaching implications for religious freedoms, legal precedents, and interfaith relations in India. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly shape the ongoing discourse surrounding religious rights and communal harmony in the nation.