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BREAKING | Gyanvapi : Allahabad HC Refuses Interim Stay On 'Puja' Inside 'Vyas Tehkhana', Asks State To Maintain Law & Order Situation
LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK
2 Feb 2024 8:00 AM GMT
The Allahabad High Court today refused to allow the Gyanvapi Mosque committee's plea seeking an interim stay on Puja being performed in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Mosque (known as Vyas Tehkhana). However, the Court has directed the state government to maintain law and order situation in the area. Pooja inside the Tehkhana began on 31st January, shortly after the Varanasi District...
The Allahabad High Court today refused to allow the Gyanvapi Mosque committee's plea seeking an interim stay on Puja being performed in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Mosque (known as Vyas Tehkhana). However, the Court has directed the state government to maintain law and order situation in the area.
Pooja inside the Tehkhana began on 31st January, shortly after the Varanasi District Judge passed an order directing the District Magistrate to facilitate Pooja inside the area by making proper arrangements. The DM complied with the order on the same day.
On Thursday, an appeal was moved by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (which manages Gyanvpai mosque) challenging the order of the Varanasi District Court allowing Hindus to perform prayers in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque (Vyas Ji ka Tehkhana). The committee also sought a stay on the worship rituals.
While hearing the matter today, a Bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal refused to grant any interim relief to the Mosque Committee as it stressed that it had not challenged Varanasi District Judge's January 17th order, wherein the District Magistrate was appointed as a receiver.
The Court has granted it time till February 6 to amend its appeal ad till then, the Court directed the Advocate General to maintain law and order situation in the area.
This development comes two days after the Supreme Court refused to urgently hear the Mosque Committee's plea against the order allowing puja in Vyas Ji ka Tehkhana, located at the southern cellar of the Mosque.
It may be noted that the Varanasi District Judge on January 31 directed the District Administration to make appropriate arrangements within 7 days for Hindus to conduct worshipping rituals inside one of the sealed cellars/basement/tahkhana (vyas ji ka tehkhana) inside the existing Gyanvapi mosque complex. Worship at this spot was stopped in the year 1993.
The matter relates to 'Somnath Vyas' tehkhana inside Gyanvapi Mosque premises. Until 1993, the Vyas family conducted religious ceremonies in the basement. However, in compliance with a directive from the state government, the religious practices were discontinued.
The operative part of the Varanasi Court's order reads thus:
"District Magistrate, Varanasi / receiver is directed to get puja, raga-blog performed of idols located in the southern cellar of #GyanvapiMosque (suit property), through a priest nominated by Kashi Vishwanath Trust Board & plaintiff. For this purpose, make proper arrangements of iron fencing etc. in 7 days"
Shortly after the Varanasi District Judge's order, the District Magistrate MS Rajalingam, along with other government officials, entered the mosque complex through gate number 4 of the Kashi Corridor and the officials spent around two hours inside the complex.
Thereafter, the basement/tehkhana was unlocked, and regular worship commenced in the area. Devotees were observed congregating outside 'Vyas Ji ka Tahkhana.'
In its application, the mosque committee has contended that the administration was acting in 'hot haste' soon after the Varanasi Court's order to allow the pooja at night itself. The application further argues that these actions, occurring in the middle of the night, aimed to preempt any legal challenge by the mosque managing committee.
