Allahabad HC declines interim stay on Varanasi court order allowing puja in Gyanvapi mosque
LUCKNOW: In a major blow to Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (AIM), the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, the Allahabad High Court on Friday, refused to allow the plea of AIM seeking an interim stay on the ongoing puja inside the southern cellar of the mosque premises, known as Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana.
The puja inside the cellar had commenced on January 31, 2024 in compliance of the Varanasi District Court order delivered the same day, allowing prayers by Hindu priest named by Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust (SKVTT).
Hearing the AIM's plea against Varanasi District Court’s January 31, 2024 order, the High Court bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal refused to grant an interim stay on ongoing puja inside the cellar saying that the AIM had not challenged the District Court's January 17, 2024 order appointing the Varanasi District Magistrate as the receiver of the cellar.
AIM had no objection to the appointment of DM as the cellar’s receiver who now has possession of the cellar, wondered Justice Agarwal. The High Court bench asked the AIM to amend its plea and file a fresh one challenging the Varanasi district court’s January 17, 2024 order.
The court granted AIM time till February 6 to move the amended plea. The High Court also directed the Advocate General of UP to maintain a law and order situation in the area.
Notably, the Varanasi DM, in compliance of district court’s January 17, 2024 order, took the possession of the cellar on January 23, 2024. Varanasi district judge Dr AK Vishvesha, in his January 31, 2024 order, had also directed the Varanasi District Magistrate/receiver of the cellar, to make suitable arrangements in the steel grill around the cellar for the performance of puja.
In compliance of the court order, the district administration removed the grill around the cellar and allowed the priest named by Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust to perform the puja which commence on late January 31 night and continued till early morning of February 1.
Subsequently, the AIM moved to Allahabad High Court seeking a stay on puja on Thursday. It may be noted that the AIM had initially moved to the Supreme Court of India to challenge the District Court's order allowing puja inside the cellar and had sought an urgent hearing.
However, the apex court had refused an urgent hearing to the AIM and directed it to go to the Allahabad High Court with its plea. The puja, which was performed by Kashi Vishwanath temple head priest Om Prakash Mishra named by SKVTT.
The rituals took place under the supervision of Vedic Acharya Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid with the cleaning of cellar walls with Ganga Jal followed by the Aarti of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi. The rituals which started late on Wednesday night concluded with Mangla Aarti on early Thursday morning at 3 am.