The Varanasi District and Sessions Court on Monday dismissed the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee's plea challenging Hindu women's request for permission to worship Hindu deities in the Gyanvapi mosque. District judge AK Vishvesha said the petition by the women is maintainable, and will continue to be heard by the court.
The next hearing of the case is on September 22, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in the case, told ANI.
Five women had filed the petition seeking permission for daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols are claimed to be located on an outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. The Anjuman Committee had said the Gyanvapi mosque is a Waqf property and has questioned the maintainability of the plea. Earlier, a lower court had ordered a videographic survey of the complex. The survey work was completed on May 16 and the report was presented in the court on May 19.
Ahead of the verdict, security was tightened and prohibitory orders were issued in the area.
