From left: Gyanvapi complex, Shivling found inside Gyanvapi complex
On May 23, Varanasi Court allowed an application seeking the consolidation of 8 suits concerning the Gyanvapi dispute pending before various courts. District Judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha observed that all these cases must be consolidated and tried together. Therefore, all cases concerning the Gyanvapi dispute will be heard together by a District Judge’s court.
“I am of the opinion that it will be expedient in the interest of justice that all the suits mentioned above…should be tried together and may be consolidated and all these suits and proceedings shall be decided upon the evidence in any of such suits or proceedings,” the judge said.
The application for consolidation of similar cases was moved urging the court to consolidate the cases in order to save the public’s time and money and avoid difficulties of legal nature.
Furthermore, the court said that the case of Rakhi Singh and others Vs State of UP and others “shall be the leading case and evidence shall be recorded in the leading case.” In the Rakhi Singh case, the plaintiffs are seeking the right to worship Bhagwan Shringar Gauri and other deities in the Gyanvapi Mosque compound.
The court also noted the Supreme Court’s order dated November 11, 2022, wherein the top court observed that it would be open to the District Judge to determine whether the consolidation of suits concerning the Gyanvapi dispute is warranted if an application is made before the judge concerning similar suits. It is pertinent to note that out of the consolidated cases, six cases are pending before the court of civil judge (senior division) and one is pending before the fast-track court of the civil judge (senior division).
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