Gyanvapi Mosque row: Varanasi district court adjourns hearing till July 12

The Varanasi District Court on Monday adjourned the hearing in the Gyanvapi case and said that it will resume it on July 12. The lawyer representing the Muslim side presented arguments during the hearing today.

Advocate Abhay Nath Yadav, representing the Muslim side in the case, presented 47 arguments out of 51 in the Varanasi court.

Advocate Vishnu Jain, representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi Masjid survey matter, said, " The Muslim side has given its arguments, the date for the next hearing is July 12, keeping in mind everyone's convenience. The Muslim side to keep its arguments on law-point in front of the court then."

Varanasi district court began hearing earlier in the day on Monday hearing arguments of the mosque management committee challenging the maintainability of a petition seeking permission to offer prayers to Hindu deities at the Gyanvapi Masjid complex.

On May 30, the Varanasi District Court deferred the hearing on the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee's plea challenging the maintainability of a suit filed by Hindu women till July 4, according to a lawyer representing the petitioner women.

Advocate appearing for Anjuman Intezamia Masjid had cited various judgements to support his argument that the maintainability of a suit filed by Hindu women is barred by the Places of Worship Act.

The arguments by the Muslim side, seeking rejection of civil suit's claims on Gyanvapi Mosque, could not be completed and it will continue today. Earlier, the court of District Judge, while fixing the hearing on the maintainability of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex case, said that the matter will be heard as per directions of the Supreme Court.

The Hindu side has claimed that a Shivling (a representation of Lord Shiva) was discovered inside the mosque premises and the Muslim side claimed that the structure was part of the fountain at the mosque's wuzu khana area.

Meanwhile, a civil court in Varanasi today asked the Muslim side to file a reply on another civil suit seeking the right to worship in the mosque premises.

(with agency inputs)