Gyanvapi mosque: Allahabad HC refuses Muslim side's plea against Hindu prayers inside 'Vyas ji Ka Tehkhana'

Allahabad High Court has refused to put a stay on prayers by Hindu devotees inside the mosque cellar, media reports said.After a Varanasi district court permitted Hindu devotees to carry out prayers inside the sealed 'Vyas ji Ka Tehkhana' area in the basement of the disputed Gyanvapi mosque, the Muslim side, taking legal action, had filed a revision petition in the high court.

This comes after a plea by the Muslim side for an urgent hearing was turned down by the Supreme Court, which directed them to approach the Allahabad High Court.

In the ongoing Gyanvapi Mosque dispute case, the Masjid Intezamia Committee filed a plea in the Allahabad High Court, where it is seeking a stay on the district court's decision. Counsel for the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, SFA Naqvi, stated that an urgent hearing into the case was sought by the Muslim side.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Muslim side also staged demonstrations in protest of the district court's ruling with Committee urging Muslims to keep their shops shut on Friday (Feb 2).

Notably, this comes days after the Varanasi district courtruled in favour of allowing a priest to perform prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the mosque. In a breakthrough development on Wednesday (Jan 31), prayers were conducted byHindu devotees at the area allowed.

Also Read |India weather update: Delhi-NCR woke up to heavy fog after rains, IMD predicts more rainfall in February

Last week, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) claimed that the mosque was built after the destruction of a large Hindu temple. The report suggested that the original structure was demolished and parts of it were used in the construction of the existing mosque.

Also Read |Mumbai bomb scare: Police alert after unknown person warns of six bombs

Temple trust president Nagendra Pandey remarked, "Vyas ji's cellar was opened after 31 years for prayers" at around 10.30 pm on Jan 31. The Gyanvapi mosque has four 'tahkhanas' (cellars) in the basement. One of these remains in the possession of the Vyas family. Vyas is a priest and a petitioner who sought to pray inside the mosque.

Watch |Another Indian student found dead in US, third case within a week

It is worth noting that the district court while giving its ruling over the praying rights of Hindu devotees, had directed the local administration to make necessary arrangements within seven days.

(With inputs from agencies)