The Allahabad High Court on Friday refused the stay the Varanasi Court order that allowed the Hindu devotees to offer prayers in the southern cellar of the disputed Gyanvapi structure.

The court granted time until February 6 for the Muslim side to amend its pleadings to include a challenge to a January 17 order consequent to which the January 31 order was passed.

The court said that the mosque side should first challenge the order of January 17, 2024. By this order, District Magistrate Varanasi has been appointed as the receiver, and after that, the DM took possession of the Gyanvapi premises on January 23. After this, the District Court, by an interim order dated January 31, has given permission to Hindus to perform puja in the basement through a priest.

After the order of the court, puja and aarti were performed in the early hours on Thursday.

The next hearing will now be held on February 6