Allahabad High Court’s decision on allowing Hindus to pray in Gyanvapi basement today

New Delhi:

The Allahabad High Court will deliver its verdict today on a plea challenging the Varanasi District Court’s decision to allow Hindu prayers in a basement of the Gyanvapi Mosque.

The Varanasi district court had ruled on January 31 that a priest could offer prayers in the southern basement of the Gyanvapi mosque.

This order was given on the petition of Shailendra Kumar Pathak, who said that his maternal grandfather Somnath Vyas had performed puja till December 1993.

Shri Pathak had requested that, as a hereditary priest, he be allowed to enter the crypt and resume worship.

There are four ‘tahkhanas’ (cellars) in the basement of the mosque, and one of them is still owned by the Vyas family.

The Varanasi district court order came a day after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the mosque complex was made public.

An ASI survey ordered by the same court in connection with a related case suggested that the mosque was built on the remains of a Hindu temple during the rule of Aurangzeb.

The mosque committee refuted the petitioner’s version. The committee said that no idol was present in the basement, so there was no question of praying there till 1993.

The 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.

After hearing both the sides on 15 February, Allahabad High Court had reserved its decision.