Gyanvapi Case: Fresh Application Filed Before Varanasi Court to Seal & Protect Areas Where Hindu Signs & Symbols Exist

The Hindu side has filed a fresh application before the Varanasi Court to “seal and protect” certain areas of the Gyanvapi premises where Hindu signs and symbols exist so that no damage could be done to the same by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee and “Namaz offerers.” Plaintiff No 1 Rakhi Singh moved the application before the District Judge, Varanasi, in the Hindu worshippers’ suit.

The Hindu side’s application further seeks a direction to concerned authorities to regulate and restrict the number of Muslims inside the Gyanvapi premises and a direction to the Muslim side to refrain from painting the structures inside the Gyanvapi premises.

The Hindu side moved the application before the Varanasi Court on August 11, after the Allahabad High Court allowed the withdrawal on August 8 of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the Government of Uttar Pradesh to seal the entire Gyanvapi premises so that “no damage can be done by non-Hindus/Non-Sanatani to Hindu sign/symbol present inside the premises.”

The PIL, filed before the high court, sought that the premises are sealed without affecting the Varanasi Court’s order directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific investigation of the Gyanvapi premises.

Rakhi Singh’s application before the Varanasi Court submits that a magnificent temple used to exist at the disputed site, where Bhagwan Shiva himself established a “Jyotirlinga” lakhs of years ago; however, the “cruel Islamic” ruler Aurangzeb destroyed the temple in 1669.

The application further submits that after destroying the temple, the Muslims encroached upon the land and put up a superstructure which they call the alleged “Gyanvapi Mosque” even though the property vested with the deity and thus could not be construed as Waqf property.

The application argues that the Gyanvapi premises has vested in the deity since time immemorial and that if some persons forcibly and without the authority of law offer namaz within the premises, the same does not become a mosque.

The application further cites the Advocate Commissioner’s report and claims that various Hindu signs and symbols have been found within the Gyanvapi premises such as Trident, Swastika, Lotus and other such symbols. The Hindu side argues that the same is “sufficient to prove the existence of Hindu temple” at the Gyanvapi premises.

The Hindu side alleges that the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee is attempting to destroy and damage the Hindu signs and symbols existing within the Gyanvapi premises, which are important pieces of evidence for the trial and thus crucial for deciding the present suit.

Thus, the applications seek a direction from the Varanasi Court to “seal and protect” certain areas of the Gyanvapi premises where Hindu signs and symbols exist so that no damage could be done to the same, referring to the Advocate Commissioner’s findings last year and the Hindu signs and symbols found during the ongoing ASI survey.

Muslim Side’s Application to Stop Ongoing ASI Survey
Notably, the Muslim side has also moved a fresh application before the Varanasi Court to stop the ongoing ASI survey of the Gyanvapi premises with “immediate effect.” The Hindu worshippers have been given time till August 17 to file their objections to the Muslim side’s application.

The Muslim side has argued that while the Varanasi Court allowed the ASI to conduct a scientific investigation of the Gyanvapi premises, the plaintiffs have failed to deposit monies to bear the expenses incurred for the survey in accordance with Rule 70 of General Civil Rule, and thus, directions should be issued to stop the survey with “immediate effect.”

The Muslim side further argued that no written or oral information about the scientific investigation has been given by the ASI. The Muslim side further contended that no time has been fixed for the ASI survey and despite this, the agency has been conducting the scientific investigation. The application argues that the same is not proper, and thus, has to be stopped.

“That the ASI The survey work being done by the is being done contrary to the procedure prescribed in the law which is illegal. Which is necessary and justified to be stopped with immediate effect,” the Muslim side’s application stated.