Hindu side can now perform puja at sealed Gyanvapi crypt; Everything you need to know about Vyasji Tehkana

A Varanasi court on Wednesday allowed Hindu petitioners to hold prayers in the basement of the Jawapi Masjid in what it termed a “historic verdict”.

As per the court order, the authorities concerned shall comply with its order within a week and make necessary arrangements for the deity puja to be performed by the complainant and the pujari or priest nominated by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust.

The judgment came in response to a lawsuit filed by Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas against the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (AIMC), which manages the mosque.

Hindu advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said this was a “turning point in the case”, calling it a “historic verdict”. Here’s everything you need to know about relevant basement locations.

What is Vyasji Tehkhana

According to HT, there are four “cellars” in the basement of the controversial Gianwapi Mosque, one of which is still owned by the Vyas family who once lived here.

The basement of Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana is located at the southern end of the Gyanvapi complex. Madan Mohan Yadav had earlier said that the authorities sealed and locked the basement named ‘Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana’ in 1993.

The above basement was cleared during a scientific survey of the mosque by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2023.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted a scientific survey report on the site of the Jawapi Masjid to the Varanasi District Court on December 18.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, while reading out the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) investigation report, said that a large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the Jawapi Masjid in Varanasi.

Meanwhile, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee said it will challenge the district court’s order in the Allahabad High Court. In this regard, Hindu advocate Vishnu Jain will approach the Allahabad High Court and ask them to be heard first.