New Delhi (Agency): The Allahabad High Court in India has delayed further hearings concerning the Gyanvapi mosque and the neighboring Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Chief Justice Pritinker Diwakar announced the decision, setting the next hearing date for September 12.
This case revolves around a petition challenging the very right to hear a suit that seeks the “restoration” of a temple where the Gyanvapi mosque currently stands. Alongside this, the court will also consider another petition against a Varanasi court’s decision in 2021 to conduct a survey of the mosque.
The mosque committee, known as Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, filed the petition. The case was originally under the jurisdiction of Justice Prakash Padia. The Chief Justice’s court granted the mosque committee’s request for additional time to review the case.
During the proceedings, the mosque committee noted that another single judge had already heard the case at length and had even reserved judgment. According to court rules, however, if a judgment is not delivered even after a case hearing is complete, the Chief Justice has the authority to either send the case to another bench or decide it himself.
The Chief Justice revealed that the judgment in this case had been reserved multiple times since March 15, 2021, but was never delivered. Following this information, the counsel for the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee asked for the case to be delayed to allow more time for studying it.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Diwakar also commented on the media’s coverage of the case. He expressed concern about misleading reporting by some newspapers during another case related to the mosque.
Justice Prakash Padia had earlier reserved his verdict on July 25 and set August 28 as the date for delivering the judgment, but that did not happen.
The matter concerning the Gyanvapi mosque and the Vishwanath Temple is a delicate issue involving religious and cultural sentiments. The court’s decision to adjourn the hearing indicates the complexity and sensitivity of the case, which remains under close scrutiny both legally and socially.