Gyanvapi case: Varanasi court reserves order on admitting petition pertaining to FIR against mosque committee

Varanasi Court
Image Courtesy: indianexpress.com

In fresh developments in the matter pertaining to the Gyanvapi mosque case, the court of Varanasi district judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesh had reserved its order pertaining to the admissibility of a petition by the Vishwa Vaidik Sanatan Sangh (VVSS), that demands that a First Information Report (FIR) be filed against the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid (AIM), the committee that manages the Gyanvapi mosque.

Jagran reports that appearing for the petitioners, advocate Shivam Gaud submitted that the petitioner fears that symbols related to Hinduism were being destroyed by the mosque committee. The AIM meanwhile submitted that the case related to the main matter was already being heard by the court and therefore the petition for filing an FIR should not be entertained.

SabrangIndia had reported previously how VVSS, led by Jitendra Singh ‘Visen’ alleges that the AIM has damaged the basic structure of the Lord Visheshwar temple located on the mosque premises, and demanded that the FIR be filed as per provisions of the Places of Worship Act. VVSS had first moved the court of the special chief judicial magistrate, but it rejected this petition. On June 14, VVSS moved the district court, and was heard on June 23.

Readers would recall that VVSS had moved another petition on May 24, demanding a ban on the entry of Muslims in the Gyanvapi premises. But this petition that was originally moved before the court of civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar, was subsequently transferred on May 25 by District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha to the fast-track court of civil judge (senior division) Mahendra Kumar Pandey.

This was after the Supreme Court transferred the case involving maintainability of the suit under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code from the court of judge Diwakar to the district judge. That matter is scheduled to be heard on July 4, while the matter in the fast-track court will be heard next on July 8.

In related developments, civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who had originally ordered the video survey of the mosque premises, and also ordered that the mosque area be sealed after a “Shivling” was found in the Wazu Khana (ablution tank) has now been transferred. Diwakar had been receiving death threats in wake of his decisions. The transfer notification was issued by the Registrar General on June 20, and pertains to transfers of 213 civil judges (junior division), 285 additional district and sessions judges, and 121 civil judges (Senior division), reported Times of India. Diwakar is among 619 judicial officers transferred. He is to assume his next charge at the Bareilly district court by July 4.