Varanasi, 24th October: The court of District Judge (DJ) Sanjeev Shukla on Friday afternoon accepted the petition demanding replacement of the cloth stuck in the lock of the sealed ‘wazukhana’ of Shringar Gauri and Gyanvapi temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The court said that we cannot give any order because the Supreme Court is hearing it. If both the parties agree at the local level, then the cloth will be replaced.
On the court’s direction, on October 29 at 09 am, in the presence of the District Magistrate (DM) and the Government Advocate, all the plaintiffs and defendants will inspect the cloth stuck in the lock of the washroom. If required, the cloth of the sealed lock will be replaced.
It should be noted that during the survey, the area in the Gyanvapi Mosque, where a Shivling-like figure was found, was sealed on 16/17/2022, by order of the Civil Judge Senior Division and the Supreme Court.
Advocate Rajesh Mishra, who filed the petition in this case, informed the court that the Civil Judge Senior Division Fast Track Court had ordered the sealing of the washroom in 2022, which was also approved by the Supreme Court. More than three years have passed since the seal and lock cloth has become worn and requires replacement.
The Muslim side, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, objected to this. The defendant’s lawyers stated that this case has also been heard in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has stated that a local court cannot issue an order on any petition related to the Gyanvapi case. Therefore, the petitioner should apply to the Supreme Court. After hearing both parties, the court set the next hearing date for October 24.