Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday pronounced its verdict in the Gyanvapi Shringar Gauri case and dismissed a petition filed by the Anjuman Intazamia Mosque Committee challenging the trial of five Hindu women seeking their right to worship inside the mosque premises. The High Court has upheld the Order of the Varanasi Court dated September 12, 2022.
On December 23, 2022, the Allahabad High Court had reserved its verdict on the issue of the right of regular worship of Shringar Gauri at Gyanvapi in Varanasi after prolonged arguments from both sides.
The order was passed by Justice J J Munir on a review petition filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, Varanasi. Rakhi Singh and nine other women had filed a civil suit in the district court of Varanasi regarding the right to worship.
The mosque’s management committee had filed an application in the High Court against the rejection of its objection in this case.
The Muslim side has contended that civil suits under the Places of Worship Act of 1991 and the Central Waqf Act of 1995 are not sustainable. This decision of the district judge was challenged by the mosque committee in the High Court.
What is the case
Five Hindu women had sought permission to worship regular worship of Shringar Gauri and other deities in the Gyanvapi mosque premises. A survey was also conducted in the mosque on the court’s order. After the survey, the Hindu side claimed that a Shivalinga was present in the basement of the mosque, while the Muslim side described it as a fountain.
After this, on August 18, 2021, five women reached the court seeking permission to worship Maa Shringar Gauri, Ganesh Ji, Hanuman Ji and other deities present in the premises in the Gyanvapi Mosque premises.
Currently, worship is done only once a year. These five petitioners are headed by Rakhi Singh from Delhi, while the other four women are Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, Laxmi Devi and Rekha Pathak from Banaras.