Hindu side now seeks to halt Muslim namaz at Gyanvapi mosque terrace

Days after the Allahabad High Court allowed the Hindu side to continue its puja in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, the Hindu side now approached the Varanasi district court seeking an order preventing Muslims from offering Namaz at the terrace within the Gyanvapi mosque.

The petition, filed by plaintiff Ram Prasad Singh, aims to halt entry into the 'Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana,' a 500-year-old terrace located in the southern area of the complex.

The petitioner raised concerns about the possibility of accidents due to the old age of the structure to strengthen his petition seeking to restrict Muslims from offering Namaz in the mosque.

This move comes just days after the Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition challenging the district court's earlier order from January 31, which permitted Hindus to offer puja in the southern cellar of the mosque complex.

On Monday, Justice Rohit Ranjan Aggarwal presided over the plea filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which contested the Varanasi district court's decision. The court's order not only allowed for the performance of puja by devotees but also instructed the district administration to facilitate necessary arrangements for the same, with the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust tasked to nominate a priest for the rituals.

In response, the mosque committee took the matter to the Allahabad High Court, challenging the Varanasi court's ruling.

The legal battle over the Gyanvapi mosque complex, a site of religious significance for both Hindus and Muslims, continues to unfold amidst ongoing debates regarding access, worship rights, and preservation concerns. As the court hearings progress, stakeholders from both communities await further developments in this contentious case.