In a significant development, the Varanasi Court has recently granted permission to the Hindu petitioners to conduct religious ceremonies, or puja, in the basement of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. This decision follows the thorough cleaning of the said basement during the scientific survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2023.
Last week, the Varanasi court mandated the public release of the ASI report on the Gyanvapi Masjid case, ensuring transparency and providing copies to both the Hindu and Muslim parties involved.
The legal journey began on July 21, 2023, when the Varanasi district court instructed the ASI to conduct an exhaustive scientific survey, including excavations if required, to ascertain whether the mosque, situated near the Kashi Vishwanath temple, was built upon a pre-existing temple structure.
In December 2023, the ASI submitted its survey report, sealed for confidentiality, on the Gyanvapi mosque complex in the district court.
The Gyanvapi Mosque has been a focal point of legal and historical discussions, with several Hindu groups contending that the mosque was erected on the remains of the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The mosque, located in close proximity to the renowned Kashi Vishwanath temple, became the center of current judicial proceedings when a group of women sought permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.
Various courts, including the Supreme Court, Allahabad High Court, and Varanasi Court, have received numerous petitions related to the Gyanvapi mosque case. As per available information, there are 18 pleas concerning the Gyanvapi dispute being heard across various Varanasi courts, in addition to the original suit in the High Court. These petitions address diverse aspects of the dispute, such as the mosque’s purported construction by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and the right to worship within the contested site. The legal proceedings continue to unfold, shaping the narrative around the historical and religious significance of the Gyanvapi Mosque and its surroundings.
