Gyanvapi Mosque: A new petition in Varanasi court seeks a ban on Muslim entry

*Paromita Das

A new petition has been filed in a Varanasi court asking for a ban on Muslims entering the Gyanvapi Mosque complex.

The petition, filed by the Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh, was accepted by civil judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar’s court. The issue is likely to be discussed today.

The Gyanvapi Masjid is located on the western bank of the Ganga, next to the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple.

“We have demanded three things, including that Muslims be barred from entering the Gyanvapi complex and that it be handed over to Hindus,” petitioner Kiran Singh told ANI.

The Gyanvapi Case

In August 2021, petitions were filed in a local court in Varanasi seeking permission for daily darshan and poojan at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal within the Gyanvapi Mosque complex. On April 26 of this year, the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Varanasi, Ravi Kumar Diwakar, ordered a videography survey of the site in May.

The court ordered that videography and a survey be conducted inside the mosque grounds on May 6 and 7. However, the exercise was halted due to massive protests by Muslims who were opposed to the court’s order. The court ordered another video survey and set a May 17 deadline. A court-appointed team conducted the survey.
Among the items discovered during the three-day survey were rubble from an old temple, trishul, damru, the hood of Sheshnag (a serpent from Hindu mythology), and several pieces of broken Hindu deities, according to sources. Hindus claimed that a Shivling was also discovered inside the mosque’s wazukhana.

By then, the Muslim side had petitioned the Supreme Court. On May 20, after hearing both sides’ arguments, the Supreme Court transferred the civil suit filed by Hindu devotees against the Gyanvapi mosque from civil judge (senior division) to district judge, Varanasi, stating that given the complexities and sensitivity of the issue, it is preferable that this case be handled by a senior judicial officer with over 25-30 years of experience.
The Supreme Court directed that the priority of the application under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code (on maintainability) filed by the mosque committee, which claimed that the civil suit is barred by a 1991 Parliamentary Act, be decided upon the transfer of papers of suit from the civil judge (senior division).