Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Court Rejects Muslim Side’s Adjournment Plea Over ASI Survey Of Gyanvapi Masjid Site

A fast-track court in Varanasi has rejected the demand of Anjuman Intezamia Masajid and the Sunni Waqf Board to adjourn the proceedings of the case seeking ASI survey of the Gyanvapi Temple-Masjid complex filed on behalf of Swayambhu Bhagwan Vishwanath, reports Dainik Jagaran.

Earlier, the defendants in the case, Anjuman Intezamia Masajid and the Sunni Waqf Board, had appealed to adjourn the proceedings in the case citing the High Court order. Their plea was debated on Tuesday (4 February) by the parties in the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division-Fast Track) Ashutosh Tiwari.

The plaintiff in the case, Swayambhu Bhagwan Vishwanath, had earlier appealed to conduct an archaeological survey of the Gyanvapi-Vishwanath temple complex. The defendant objected this appeal saying that the High Court had stayed the hearing in the said case which is still in effect. In this context, the trial proceedings should be postponed.

Appearing from the plaintiff’s side, advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi argued that the High Court has not ordered the adjournment of the trial. Additionally, this application has been given by the defendant to unduly block the trial.

The court rejected the defendants' pleas after hearing arguments from both the sides.

The court has also fixed 17 February as the next date for hearing the appeal to conduct an archaeological survey of the Gyanvapi-Vishwanath temple complex.