Gyanvapi mosque case: Indian court dismisses masjid committee’s plea seeking dismissal of civil suit
Gyanvapi mosque
The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday (Dec 19) dismissed all petitions filed by the mosque committee challenging a civil suit pending before a lower court in Varanasi seeking the restoration of a temple at the site where the mosque exists.
The high court ordered the Varanasi court to complete the hearing of the case within six months.
The Muslim side plaintiff represents the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which runs the Gyanvapi mosque, and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, among others.
They had challenged the maintainability of the suit, saying that it goes against the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which freeze the status of religious places of worshipas theyexisted on August 15, 1947,and prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and ensures the maintenance of theirreligious character.
The only exception to this act is the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site.
Arguing that the suit is not barred by the Places of Worship Act, the court said that the mosque complex can have either a Muslim character or a Hindu character and can't have a dual religious character.
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
'Islamic Republic will never make a deal with the US': Iran deputy speaker echoes Araghchi’s remark
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Asim Munir eyes defence deal with Qatar & Turkiye after Kuwait as Pakistan seeks investments | Gravitas
)
'Broader struggle for democracy...': Greta Thunberg joins Indian students protest in London - What she said
)
Delhi Police issues BIG statement on viral 'don't leave national capital without permission' notice | FACT CHECK
)
3,000 years ago, humanity spoke thousands of languages — then fell silent. Where did they all go?
)
Earthquake of magnitude 7.1 strikes Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, tsunami warning issued
)
‘Kill Melania, Barron’: Why is IRGC-linked media outlet urging ‘freedom fighters’ to assassinate Trump’s family? WATCH
)
ChatGPT invoked God, told pastor not to worry about his symptoms. Then pulmonary embolism hit
)
'Spreading deepfakes, deleted PM Modi's video': Why Meta AI should be banned in India for interfering in Indian economy and democracy
)
Why did Meta remove PM Modi's Facebook video on paper leaks? Tech company blames 'technical error'
)
Sadie Sink's leaked Spider-Man: Brand New Day clip fuels fresh Jean Grey speculation
)
NEET aspirant ends her life in Maharashtra after falling 11 marks short of cut-off
)
You are a 'Naked Official' in China if you hold high posts and have children or spouse abroad. What about India?
)
'First dumb AI': Meta AI blocks Indian PM Modi's video in his own country, allows abuse ads and deletes livelihoods without explanation
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
Tom Cruise's daughter Suri drops his surname; adopts Katie Holmes' middle name Noelle
)
China deploying advanced fighter jets closer to India's northern frontier
)
Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband Ojani Noa claims he confronted Sean 'Diddy' Combs over alleged affair
)
FAA orders fix for faulty seats on hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets, warns of passenger injury in emergency landings
)
RSS backed Jantar Mantar student protest? Mohan Bhagwat's 'question authority' remark resurfaces
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Russia drops 3-tonne Glide bombs on Ukraine
)
Woman used AI to tell court what happened the night her ex-boyfriend 'raped' her. It was a bad idea
)
Giant iceberg flips violently near Greenland exposing its underside - 'I didn't know they could do that'
)
'Worst quality AI in market': Meta AI's moderation fail hits PM Modi and Indian Democracy
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
'Suit doesn't contravene Places of Worship Act'
"The suit affects two major communities of the country...We direct the trial court to expeditiously decide the suit in 6 months," the bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal said.
The civil suit in contention seeks to restore an ancient temple at the disputed site currently occupied by the Gyanvapi mosque, with the petitioners claiming that the mosque is a part of the temple.
The court had reserved its judgment on December 8 after hearing the counsels of the petitioners and the respondent.
On Monday, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted its scientific survey report of the mosque premises, after the Varanasi court ordered to check if the late-17th century mosque was built over a Hindu temple.
About the case
The report was submitted in a sealed document to a court of the district judge in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.
Also read |India: ASI submits sealed cover report on scientific survey of ‘disputed’ Gyanvapi Mosque
While the Hindu side objected to a sealed report, the Muslim side opposed a public report.
The Hindu plaintiffs claim that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of an ancient temple to make way for a mosque, which is adjacent to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple.