12 February,2024 01:04 PM IST | Prayagraj | mid-day online correspondent
Gyanvapi mosque. File Photo
The Allahabad High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on the plea challenging the Varanasi district court order allowing Hindu prayers in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque. The hearing of the plea is adjourned till February 15.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal passed the order on the appeal filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee. The bench heard Punit Gupta and SFA Naqvi, counsels for the Muslim side, at length and fixed February 15 as the next date of hearing in the matter on Naqvi's request, reported news wire PTI.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee, which looks after the affairs of the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple had moved to the high court on February 2, within hours of the Supreme Court refusing to hear its plea against the Varanasi district court order. The Supreme Court had asked the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee to approach the high court.
The Allahabad High Court last week too had adjourned the hearing on the plea till Monday, February 12. The Allahabad High Court has not given any immediate relief to the Gyanvapi Masjid committee.
ALSO READ
Places of Worship Act: SC restrains courts from passing final or survey orders
Gyanvapi row: Allahabad HC adjourns hearing till Dec 17 of plea seeking survey of 'wazukhana' area
Gyanvapi case: Varanasi court to hear plea for ASI survey on Sep 6
Gyanvapi row: Varanasi court to hear Hindu side's plea on Vyasji's basement on August 17
Gyanvapi mosque: SC refuses to stay the Hindu prayers in the cellar
The Varanasi district court had ruled on January 31 that a priest can perform prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. Prayers were performed in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque on the same night following court orders allowing the resumption of a practice set to have being discontinued three decades back.
"Vyas ji's cellar was opened after 31 years for prayers," temple trust president Nagendra Pandey told PTI. He said the southern cellar was opened at around 10.30 pm on January 31 after the court order.
Meanwhile, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had sais that the Varanasi district court decision in the Gyanvapi mosque case allowing Hindu prayers in the cellar of the masjid was taken in "haste" and said it would pursue the matter right up to the Supreme Court to get justice.
As per PTI report, several Muslim organisations under the umbrella of All India Muslim Personal Law Board also said the Places of Worship Act, 1991 should be implemented in letter and spirit to prevent disputes arising in the country.
(With PTI Inputs)
