Varanasi

A Varanasi Court on Monday dismissed the plea of Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women seeking worshipping rights in the Gyanvapi mosque compound.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 22.

"The court rejected the Muslim side's petition and said the suit is maintainable. The next hearing of the case is on September 22," said Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in the case.

Earlier, the Hindu side had said that they will seek for Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey and carbon dating of the 'Shivling' like structure if the judgment comes in their favour.

The petition was filed by five women seeking permission for daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols are said to be located on an outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque, which is located close to Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Following this, in May, a local Varanasi court ordered a videography survey of the complex. The survey work was completed on May 16 and the report was presented in the court on May 19.

After the videography survey, claims were made by the Hindu side that a structure, resembling a ‘Shivling’ was found in the mosque complex but the Masjid committee contested that it was a fountain and not a ‘Shivling’.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has said the Gyanvapi mosque is a Waqf property and had questioned the maintainability of the plea.

Notably, the Supreme Court on July 21 said that it will await the Varanasi district judge's decision on the Gyanvapi mosque committee's application.

The Supreme Court on May 20 transferred the case from a civil judge (senior division) to a district judge, saying considering the "complexities and sensitivity" of the issue, it is better if a senior judicial officer having an experience of over 25-30 years handles this case.

SC judgement came after the commission appointed by a district court to conduct a video surgery of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex submitted its report on May 19.

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The matter had reached the Supreme Court on a petition filed by the Mosque Management Committee, which challenged the civil judge's order of filming inside the mosque.