In the ongoing legal saga surrounding the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi land title dispute, the Allahabad High Court is set to deliver its verdict on December 19. The case involves multiple petitions, including one challenging a 1991 civil suit filed by Hindu worshippers who seek the right to worship in the Gyanvapi mosque.
The disputed suit, currently before a Varanasi court, aims to restore an ancient temple at the contested site, presently occupied by the Gyanvapi mosque. The petitioners argue that the mosque is an integral part of the temple. However, the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, responsible for managing the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board contest the suit. They claim that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991 prohibits such legal challenges. This legislation, enacted in 1991, prevents the conversion of a religious structure from its state as of the date of India's independence.
In a recent development, the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the decision made by Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker (now retired). Justice Diwaker had transferred the cases related to the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute to his bench from another judge's bench. The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Chandrachud, justified the transfer by noting that the previous judge, Justice Prakash Padia, had not delivered the judgment despite reserving it in 2021 and conducting seventy-five hearings. The Chief Justice's order to transfer the cases was deemed justified in light of these circumstances.
For those unfamiliar with the background, on August 11, the then Chief Justice (Justice Diwaker) issued an order on the administrative side withdrawing the Gyanvapi title dispute cases. This decision was made in the interest of judicial propriety, discipline, and transparency in case listings. It followed closely after Justice Padia's bench, which had been hearing the matter since August 2021, concluded the hearings and reserved the orders on July 25.
The legal intricacies and historical significance of the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi land title dispute have made it a contentious and closely watched case. The upcoming verdict by the Allahabad High Court on December 19 will likely have far-reaching implications for the involved parties and may shape the future trajectory of this complex and sensitive dispute.
TAGS: Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Allahabad High Court Verdict Land Title Dispute Gyanvapi Mosque Civil Suit
