"Appoint Committee To Ascertain The Nature Of Structure Found Inside Gyanvapi Mosque": 7 Hindu Devotees Move Allahabad HC

Seven devotees of Lord Visheswar have moved the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench) seeking the appointment of a committee/commission headed by a judge of the high court or supreme court (present/retired) to study the nature of the structure found in the Gyanvapi campus.

The Writ Petition seeks to ascertain whether a Shiva linga, as claimed by the Hindus had been found inside the mosque or if it is a fountain as being claimed by a few of the Muslims.

The plea further seeks a direction to the UOI and the state of UP to act according to such a report and permit the devotees to pray as per the rituals in case a Shiva Linga has been found inside the mosque.

The writ petition has been filed by Advocate Ashok Pande on behalf of five residents of Varanasi namely Sarve Sri Sudhir Singh, Baba Balak Das, Shivendra Pratap Singh, and Markande Tiwari, and Rajan Rai and two Advocates practicing in high court at Lucknow namely Sri Ravi Mishra and Sri Atul Kumar.

The petition further submits that when the structure which looks like Shiva linga was found in the Gyanvapi campus, it was the duty of the government to appoint a team of experts of ASI with Hindu saints and Muslim clerics as its members to immediately go on the spot to ascertain about the nature of structure.

"In case it is found to be a Shivling, it should have been handed over to Hindus for Puja, Aarti, Prasad and Darsan of Lord Visheswar and if it fountain, then to make it functional so that the communal tension prevailing in the country may come under control. The necessity to file this petition arose as being provoked by calling of Shivling as fountain BJP leader Ms Nupur Sharma made some comments on Profet Muhammad which has disturbed the relationship of the country with Muslim countries" the plea further adds.

Lastly, it has been stated in the plea that it was being filed for the reason that the Bhog,Darsan, Aarti of Lord Visheswar can not wait for years and years and it should be started without any further delay. The petitioners have taken a view that unless the religious rituals are allowed, the communal tension would continue and there is every possibility of disturbance of public order in coming days.