Varanasi court postpones judgment on plea for 'Shivling' worship in Gyanvapi mosque for Nov 14
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Varanasi: An appeal for permission to enable worship of a "Shivling" allegedly discovered in the Gyanvapi mosque complex in this location was postponed by a fast track court on Tuesday until November 14.
According to Assistant District Government Counsel Sulabh Prakash, the matter was scheduled for November 14 since Civil Judge (Senior Division) Mahendra Pandey is on leave.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court had on October 27 reserved its order on the suit for November 8.
On May 24, plaintiff Kiran Singh, who is general secretary of the Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh, filed the suit in the Varanasi district court seeking a ban on the entry of Muslims into the Gyanvapi complex, handing over the complex to the Sanatan Sangh and permission to offer prayers at the "Shivling".
On May 25, district court Judge A K Vishvesh ordered the transfer of the suit to a fast-track court.
Varanasi district magistrate, police commissioner, Anjuman Intezamia Committee that is managing the Gyanvapi mosque, and Vishwanath Temple Trust were made respondents in the suit.
On April 26, a lower court (civil judge-senior division) that was earlier hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily worship of idols of Hindu deities on the mosque's outer walls had ordered a videographic survey of the Gyanvapi complex and the Hindu side had claimed a "Shivling" was found during the exercise.
However, the Muslim side has maintained that the object was part of the water fountain mechanism at the "wazookhana" reservoir where devotees carry out ablutions before offering 'namaz'.
The Supreme Court transferred the case from a civil judge (senior division) to a district judge on May 20, saying looking at the "complexities" and "sensitivity" of the issue, it is better if a senior judicial officer with an experience of over 25-30 years handles the case.
District Judge A K Vishwesh is hearing another case demanding a survey of closed underground places in Gyanvapi premises.
This case will be heard on November 11.
With PTI inputs
