Gyanvapi: Hearing on dismissal of civil suit now on May 30
VARANASI: A Varanasi district court, which on Thursday heard arguments of the Muslim side on the maintainability of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex case, adjourned the hearing till May 30.
“The Muslim side’s arguments on the maintainability of the case remained incomplete today, which they will continue on May 30 -- the date fixed by the court for the next hearing,” said district government counsel Rana Sanjeev Singh.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, has been seeking dismissal of the Hindu petitioners’ suit for unhindered right to worship at the Shringar Gauri sthal inside the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi complex amid claims of a “Shivling” found on the premises during a court-ordered videography survey earlier this month.
During the hearing, only petitioners, lawyers and defendants were allowed inside the court. The hearing that began around 2pm went on for about two hours.
The mosque committee argued that the suit by the Hindu side was non-maintainable and should be rejected under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC). It said rumours were being spread about the ‘Shivling’ to invoke sentiments of people.
Abhay Nath Yadav, one of the advocates of Muslim side, presented several arguments seeking dismissal of the suit. Both sides received the videography report of the court-appointed survey commission.
Advocate Vishnu Jain, arguing for the Hindu women, said, “Today, Muslim side just read out paragraphs from our petition and tried to say that the petition is not maintainable. We interjected and pointed out to the court that we’ve specific rights & all pleadings were made:
Two unauthorised persons were removed from the courtroom by police. One advocate was also reportedly removed from the premises of the court on the orders of the district Judge
In an order on Tuesday, the court said it will follow the course the Supreme Court dictated in its May 20 directive. The apex court ordered that a decision be made on priority over the committee’s application against the maintainability of the suit. The Hindu side’s plea related to a controversial survey of the complex will be heard later.
The court proceedings on