The Varanasi Court granted permission to the Hindu petitioners to perform puja in the ‘Vyas Tekhana’ basement portion of the Gyanvapi mosque premises on Wednesday. The court instructed the authorities to comply with its order within a week, indicating that puja in the basement would commence after seven days.
Vishnu Shankar Jain, the advocate for the Hindu side, hailed the decision as a “historic verdict” and turning point in the case. Jain mentioned that they have forwarded the order copy to the District Magistrate for compliance and stated that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust would decide on the puja procedures. He expressed confidence in winning the legal battle soon and emphasized that anyone would be able to visit the premises.
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Madan Mohan, another lawyer representing the Hindu side, asserted that there was no legal basis for stopping the puja previously. He expressed pride in the Temple Trust’s role in resuming the puja and mentioned readiness to address any opposition to the verdict.
On the other hand, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee announced its intention to challenge the district court’s order in the Allahabad High Court. In response, Vishnu Jain, representing the Hindu side, stated that they would file a caveat before the Allahabad HC to ensure they are heard first.
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The judgment relates to Somnath Vyas’ basement, where his family used to perform puja until 1993, after which the state government’s order halted worship. The basement underwent cleaning during last year’s scientific survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India. On January 17, the district administration took over Vyas’ basement. The verdict follows the Hindu petitioner’s request for permission to perform puja in ‘Vyas’ basement.
