Prayers Resumed in the Southern Cellar of Gyanvapi Mosque After 31 Years Amid Legal Dispute

In a significant development, prayers were performed in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, marking the first time in 31 years. The resumption of prayers follows a court order that granted permission for the practice, which had reportedly been discontinued three decades ago. Varanasi District Judge AK Vishvesha stated that Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas, who sought court permission for prayers, and a priest appointed by the Kashi Vishwanath trust, would be allowed to enter the premises.

The prayers took place at 3 am, and the southern cellar was opened around 10:30 pm on Wednesday, according to Temple Trust President Nagendra Pandey. The move came after the Varanasi district court’s decision to allow the Vyas family the right to resume prayers in the southern cellar of the mosque, located near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, for the first time since December 1993.

The development has sparked legal challenges, with the Gyanvapi Masjid Committee moving the Allahabad High Court to contest the Varanasi district court’s order granting permission for Hindu prayers in the southern cellar. Lawyers representing the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee also sought an urgent hearing from the Supreme Court, but the registrar advised them to approach the high court.

Meanwhile, the Muslim side has expressed concerns about the promptness of the district administration’s actions, suggesting collusion with the plaintiffs. They argue that the administration’s haste aims to prevent the Mosque Managing Committee from pursuing legal remedies against the court order. The legal dispute reflects the complex and sensitive nature of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, where historical and religious considerations intersect with legal proceedings.

The resumption of prayers in the southern cellar adds another layer to the ongoing legal and communal tensions surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque, with multiple parties presenting their perspectives and seeking judicial intervention. The Allahabad High Court is expected to play a crucial role in adjudicating the legal challenges arising from the district court’s decision.