A Varanasi court will on February 15 hear a petition filed by one Rakhi Singh, who sought the opening of the remaining 'tehkhanas' located in the premises of Gyanvapi mosque, ANI reported. This came days after the district court of Varanasi allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers at Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana, which is one of the eight cellars at the Gyanvapi complex. It also directed the district administration to make requisite arrangements for Puja inside the cellar.
Worship began inside 'Vyas Ka Tehkhana’ on Feb 1 following the court order. Security was beefed up in the area as authorities late night opened the cellar and created a barricaded way for the people to offer prayers. Varanasi DM S. Rajalingam and Commissioner Ashok Mutha were present at the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath Dham area. DM said they were complying with the court’s order.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, said the court gave permission for puja and directed the district administration to make requisite arrangements in this regard.
“District administration will make arrangements for Puja within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform Puja,” he said while talking to media.
“Today right has been given to perform puja at 'Vyas Ka Tekhana' and the court has given the order to the District Officer for compliance of the order within a week,” another lawyer of the Hindu side said, Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi said. Chaturvedi said the petition in this regard was filed on behalf of Shailendra Kumar Vyas, the descendant of Vyas.
Recommended For You
Muslim side moved Allahabad High Court seeking a stay on Varanasi Court order. The court, however, refused an interim stay.