PRAYAGRAJ: The hearing of Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex issue resumed on Monday before the Allahabad high court. The court, while expressing dissatisfaction over the absence of any senior government counsel, adjourned the hearing due to paucity of time till April 4.
Hearing a petition filed by Anjuman Intazamia Masjid of Varanasi, Justice Prakash Padia observed, “Though the Central and the state governments are parties, it is unfortunate that no senior counsel is present on their behalf.”
Earlier on March 24, the counsel representing the temple argued that the religious character of the place of worship remained the same as on the day of August 15, 1947, therefore, the provisions of the Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 cannot be applied.
Section 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 bars filing of suit or any other legal proceedings with respect to conversion of religious character of any place of worship, existing on August 15, 1947.
To recall, the civil judge (senior division), fast track court (FTC) of Varanasi, had directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on April 8, 2021, to conduct a survey of KV Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex to find out whether a temple was demolished to build the mosque that stands there adjacent to the KV Temple.
Subsequently, the high court, in the present case, had on September 9, 2021, stayed the Varanasi court’s order dated April 8, 2021, that directed the ASI to ‘conduct a comprehensive physical survey’ of the KVT-Gyanvapi Mosque complex and further proceedings of this case.
