In the Gyanvapi-Mosque dispute case, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday had stayed Varanasi lower court’s order directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the Mosque complex, Live Law reported.
A bench headed by Justice Prakash Padia said that the Varanasi court should not have proceeded and decided the application filed for the ASI survey in view of the fact that the verdict in the petitions were already pending before the High Court.
A Civil Court in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district vide order dated 8th April 2021 allowed the ASI to conduct a survey at the disputed land of Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque. The Court further directed the UP government to provide the cost of the survey.
The land title dispute is in relation to the Gyanpavi Mosque, allegeding that it was built on the ruins of Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The Mosque situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple is claimed by the Hindus. It was built after demolishing a portion of the temple.
According to a legal suit filed in the year 1991 by the Temple’s Trust in the Varanasi District Court, the temple was destroyed in 1664 by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, therefore, the mosque was built using the temple’s remains.
(Inputs from Live Law)
