The Allahabad High Court declined to grant an interim stay on a Varanasi court ruling allowing Hindu worship in the Gyanvapi mosque crypt.
The Allahabad High Court on Friday denied an interim stay on a Varanasi court judgment allowing Hindu prayers in the Gyanvapi mosque crypt, known as Vyas Tehkhana, and asked the Muslim side to revise their petition.
The Allahabad High Court granted the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (AIMC), which challenged the district court order of the Gyanvapi mosque, until February 6 to amend its pleadings to include a challenge to a January 17 order, which resulted in the January 31 order, according to Bar and Bench reports. Once this is completed, the subject will be heard again.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal issued the ruling while hearing an appeal filed by the mosque’s management committee.
The panel had approached the high court within hours of the Supreme Court declining to hear their appeal against the Varanasi lower court’s judgment and directing them to do so. On Wednesday, the Varanasi court ruled that a priest might worship before the idols in the Gyanvapi mosque’s southern cellar.
Bandh in Varanasi areas due to court ruling.
Shops and parts of Muslim-dominated districts remained closed, while the police issued an alert throughout the Varanasi district ahead of Friday namaz, following district court orders.
Following the district court’s order, the Varanasi district issued a high alert for the first Friday namaz.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which oversees the activities of the Gyanvapi mosque, has declared a bandh for Friday throughout the town. The bandh had an impact on the town’s Muslim-dominated market areas, including Dalmandi, Nai Sadak, Nadesar, and Ardal bazaars, according to news agency PTI.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee wrote a letter requesting that the marketplaces be closed and that people offer namaz calmly. It encouraged Muslim ladies to stay inside their homes.
An additional police force has been mobilized.
Police Commissioner Ashok Mutha Jain met with police officials late last night to discuss security plans. To keep the peace during the day, more police officers from neighboring districts have been sent. PTI said that more security troops have been deployed around Kashi Vishwanath Dham and surrounding areas.
The Rapid Police Force (RPF) has been deployed in vulnerable regions. People have gathered at the Gyanvapi mosque compound for namaz.
