Gyanvapi Case: Allahabad HC Hears Muslim Side's Appeal Against 'Puja' In 'Vyas Tehkhana'

The Allahabad High Court on Monday heard an appeal moved by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (which manages Gyanvpai mosque in Varanasi) challenging the Varanasi District Court’s January 31 order allowing Hindus to perform prayers in the southern cellar of the mosque–Vyas Ji ka Tehkhana. After listening to the Muslim side’s arguments, the court posted the matter for further hearing on February 15.

The hearing of the case began at 10 am as a fresh case in the single bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Aggarwal.

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.

Gupta, while arguing called Varanasi court’s January 31 order ‘totally bad in law’.

“The District Judge failed to record his satisfaction before passing the order that no irreparable loss would be caused to the Gyanvapi Mosque committee. Not a single line in that rwgard, no balance of convenience, no irreparable loss. There is no satisfaction recorded. In this background, I submit that the order dated 31st January is totally bad in law”, he said.

He stated that the district judge allowed the prayers– which was allegedly last performed in 1993– in 2024, without recording any finding.

“It is an admitted fact that since 1993 there has been no puja in tehkhana. If after 30 years the Court is appointing a receiver and changing status quo, there must be some cogent reason…There is not a single word why such a strong mandatory injunction has been issued virtually allowing prayer d of the main plaint”, Gupta argued.

The mosque committee moved the high court on February 2 within hours of the Supreme Court refusing to hear its plea against the Varanasi district court order and asking it to approach the high court.

The Allahabad High Court had not given any immediate relief to the Gyanvapi Masjid committee which had challenged the Varanasi district court order.

The Varanasi district court ruled on January 31 that a priest can perform prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque.