India: Varanasi court grants Hindu devotees worship rights in sealed Gyanvapi Mosque basement

A Varanasi court has granted permission for Hindu devotees to worship inside the sealed 'Vyas ji Ka Tehkhana' area in the basement of the disputed Gyanvapi mosque. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is representing the Hindu side, reportedly said, "Hindu side is allowed to offer prayers at 'Vyas Ka Tehkhana'. The District Administration will have to make arrangements within 7 days. Everyone will now have the right to perform puja."

Sudhir Tripathi, an advocate from the Hindu side, also said that the commencement of the puja is permitted within the next seven days.

Advocate Jain said, "We intend to file a caveat in the Allahabad HCsince the Muslim side has said it will appeal in higher court."

Following the court's approval for puja at 'Vyas Ka Tehkhana' in the Gyanvapi mosque, petitioners and advocates on the Hindu side displayed a victory sign.

In the basement of the mosque, there are four 'tehkhanas' (cellars). Currently, one is under the ownership of the Vyas family, the former residents of the premises. Vyas has filed a petition requesting permission to access the cellar and resume the pooja claiming that it was stopped arbitrarily by an order of the then state government.

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Next court hearing on Feb 8

The court has fixed February 8 as the date of hearing on an application by the Gyanvapi mosque committee saying that the plea should be dismissed. "The cellar is a part of the Gyanvapi mosque. So worship could not be performed. Therefore, pooja should not be allowed," the mosque committee lawyer AkhlaqueAhmad was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

ASI report findings

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) earlier presented a conclusive finding that a large Hindu temple once stood at the location of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Following this, four Hindu women approached the Supreme Court requesting a scientific survey of a sealed portion of the mosque.

“It is submitted that for a proper and effective investigation, it is necessary that the ASI may be directed to undertake necessary excavation and use other scientific methods around the 'Shivlingam' (being claimed by Muslims as a fountain) for determining the nature of 'Shivlingam' and associated features without causing any damage to the object after removing artificial/modern walls/floors surrounding the 'Shivlingam',” according to the petition.

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The ASIsurvey revealed that modifications were made to the mosque using pillars and plaster from the pre-existing Hindu temple and that efforts were made to erase carvings on the pillars.

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The ASI report, spanning 839 pages, stated, "Based on scientific studies/survey carried out study of architectural remains, exposed features and artefacts inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure."

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Notably, the fountain area inside the mosque was sealed in 2022 following a Supreme Court order. The ASI conducted a scientific survey in response to a district court order from July 2023 to determine whether the mosque was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple.