Gyanvapi Case: A Look at the Labyrinth of Litigation in the Flaring Varanasi Row
Media Desk
The Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute has been going on for centuries, but it has gained renewed attention in recent years. In 2021, a group of Hindu devotees filed a petition in a Varanasi court seeking permission to worship at a shivling that they claimed was found in the mosque premises. The court ordered a survey of the mosque, and the findings of the survey have further inflamed tensions between the two communities.
The decades-old litigation around the 17th century mosque has moved from civil court to district court, to the high court and the Supreme Court, and back to district court and high court. The case has been characterized by a series of delays and setbacks, and it is unclear when it will finally be resolved.
The latest round of litigation began in April 2021, when a group of Hindu devotees filed a petition in the Varanasi district court seeking permission to worship at a shivling that they claimed was found in the mosque premises. The court ordered a survey of the mosque, and the findings of the survey have further inflamed tensions between the two communities.
The survey team found a "stone structure" in the wuzukhana (ablution area) of the mosque that they believe is a shivling. The mosque committee has denied that the structure is a shivling, and they have said that it is a fountain.
The court has ordered the district administration to seal the area where the "stone structure" was found, and it has also appointed a court commissioner to oversee the further investigation of the matter.
The Gyanvapi case is a complex and sensitive issue, and it is likely to continue to be litigated for many years to come. The case has the potential to further divide the Hindu and Muslim communities in India, and it is important that the court finds a solution that is fair to both sides.
In addition to the legal challenges, the Gyanvapi case has also been met with protests and violence. In May 2022, clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim groups near the mosque, and several people were injured. The violence highlighted the tensions that surround the case, and it raised concerns about the potential for further violence.
The Gyanvapi case is a reminder of the deep religious divisions that exist in India. The case is also a test of the Indian judicial system, and it will be interesting to see how the court resolves the matter.
