Gyanpavi Mosque Row: In a major setback for the Hindu side, a Varanasi court on Friday rejected its petition seeking a survey through excavation in the entire Gyanpavi mosque complex.
The advocate representing the Hindu side, Madan Mohan Yadav, stated that the petition was rejected by Civil Judge Senior Division Yughul Shambhu. He added that they will now knock the Supreme Court's door against the lower court's order.
Following a July 2023 order of the district court, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had carried out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises, which is located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The ASI carried out the this survey to determine whether the mosque was built over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple, as claimed by the Hindu side.
The ASI survey was ordered after Hindu petitioners claimed that the 17th century mosque was constructed over the temple and also claimed that a 'Shivling' existed under the main dome. However, the Muslim side had opposed the petition saying that the excavation could damage the mosque site. On December 18, the ASI submitted its survey report to the district court in a sealed cover.
Rejecting the petition, the Varanasi court stated in its order, "Since it has been already directed by the High Court of Allahabad and the Supreme Court that no excavation or destruction will be done at the site of the survey and the entire survey will be conducted by non-invasive methodology, the prayer of the plaintiff cannot be allowed." "The application is hereby rejected," it added.
But, the Hindu petitioners have decided to move the Supreme Court. "Without carrying out excavations, the truth of Gyanvapi will not emerge. We will approach the Supreme Court in this case," he said.
Expressing happiness over the Varanasi court's decision, Secretary of Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid Committee Muhammad Yaseen said: "This is the victory of justice."