The Allahabad High Court on Thursday reserved verdict in the petition moved by Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee to stop the Hindu side from offering prayers at Vyas basement in the Gyanvapi mosque.
The petition by the Gyanvapi Mosque committee was filed against the Varanasi court's order allowing 'Pooja' in 'Vyas Tehkana' or the southern cellar of Gyanvapi complex.
The bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal reserved orders after hearing the counsels for all the parties. The court is likely to deliver the verdict next week.
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Senior Advocate C. S. Vaidyanathan appearing for Kashi-Vishwanath trust told the court that the Vyas family had possession over the Vyas basement till 1993 and prayers were offered there. He further said namaz was never carried out in that part and the Muslim side never had any possession of the said basement.
Senior Advocate Farman Abbas Naqvi appearing for the muslim side raised contentions over the Varanasi court order. He argued that the District Magistrate is appointed in the Kashi Vishwanath Trust Committee. And despite this fact, the court appointed him receiver which is not right, Naqvi contended.
The UP Sunni Wakf Board's lawyer Puneet Gupta raised questions over intentions of the district judge. He remarked that the Varanasi court acted on his own pleadings while giving the verdict on his retirement day. And after one-week of retirement, the said Judge also held a press conference praising his own verdict, which raises suspicion over his intentions, Gupta said in court.
Vishnu Shankar Jain appearing for the Hindu side refuted these arguements and urged the high court to deny the pleading by Muslim side to stop prayers at the Vyas basement.
The court finished hearing arguements from all sides today and reserved verdict in the case.
Earlier, the Allahabad high court refused an interim stay on the Varanasi court order allowing Hindu prayers in the Vyas basement of Gyanvapi mosque.