Gyanvapi Civil Suits Not Barred By Places Of Worship Act: Allahabad HC Rejects Mosque Committee's Challenge

In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has declared that civil suits filed by Hindu worshippers and deities seeking the restoration of the temple at the Gyanvapi Mosque premises are not barred by the Places of Worship Act.

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991 prohibits the conversion of a religious structure from its nature as it stood on the date of independence (15 August 1947).

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal's bench rejected the challenge by the Masjid Committees, emphasising that the Gyanvapi compound can have either a Muslim or Hindu character.

As reported by Livemint, the court also directed the trial court to expedite the decision on the suit within six months.

The court stated, "If the lower court feels that a survey of any part is necessary, the court may direct ASI to conduct the survey."

The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, responsible for managing the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, had challenged the maintainability of a suit seeking the restoration of a temple at the mosque's site.

The court's decision follows its earlier ruling, upholding the Varanasi district court order and emphasising the necessity of the survey "in the interest of justice" for both Hindu and Muslim parties involved in the dispute.