| | |

Allahabad High Court terms Gyanvapi dispute as a matter of national importance, directs ASI to file affidavit

The High Court found affidavits by Uttar Pradesh government, ASI very sketchy

File pic of disputed Gyanvapi

September 1, 2022

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to file an affidavit within 10 days in the Gyanvapi dispute.
Terming the affidavit filed by the state and the central government as “sketchy”, Justice Prakash Padia gave the direction to the ASI describing the dispute as a matter of national importance. He further directed the Additional Secretary UP government to file a personal affidavit within ten days as well.
The single-judge bench also extended its interim order dated September 9, 2021, which had stayed the proceedings before the Varanasi Court and allowed a survey of the disputed structure by the ASI till September 30.

The original suit was filed in 1991 before the Varanasi District Court which was challenged before the High Court by petitioner Anjuman Intezamia Masazid. The Counsel for respondents contended before the court that the Places of Worship Act 1991 was not attracted as the said Act prohibits the conversion of a place of worship which is not sought in the present matter as the religious character of the disputed place was a temple since ancient times.

Earlier, during a court-mandated survey of the disputed Gyanvapi structure conducted in May this year, a shivling was found inside the premises.

Share with others