Gyanvapi: Varanasi district judge transfers plea to worship claimed ‘Shivling’ to fast-track court

In the plea, the petitioners – three leaders of Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh, including its international general secretary Kiran Singh – has sought a ban on the entry of Muslims into the Gyanvapi complex and handing over the entire complex area to Hindus.

The matter has been listed for hearing in the fast-track court on May 30.

The plea was initially filed in the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Varanasi District Judge AK Vishevesha, who on the directions of the Supreme Court is hearing an application challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women, seeking the right to worship at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, ordered the transfer of the suit to a fast-track court, District Government Counsel (Civil) Mahendra Prasad Pandey said.

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While Pandey said that the transfer of the suit to the fast-track court was “a routine exercise”, the petitioners claimed that they had mentioned “urgency in the matter” and “faster disposal” of their petition.

Speaking to mediapersons, Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh president Jitendra Singh Bishen on Wednesday said, “The hearing today was to be held on an important application for regular worship of Baba Vishveshwara in Gyanvapi complex with immediate effect. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the court has transferred the entire case to a fast-track court today. I welcome the court’s decision.”

“Today, we came to know that the matter has been transferred to a fast-track court. As the judge of the fast-track court was not available today, the matter has been listed for hearing on May 30,” said Shivam Gaur, the counsel of Kiran Singh.

Kiran’s husband is Jitendra Singh Bisen, the president of Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh.

Meanwhile, the Muslim side – Committee of Management of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, Varanasi – said that they will file objections against the petition of Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh leaders.

On Thursday, Varanasi district judge AK Vishvesha will hear the application of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women, seeking the right to worship at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

On April 8, while hearing a petition filed by the five women, Civil Judge (Senior Division), Varanasi, Ravi Kumar Diwakar, had ordered a videographic survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex.

A Shivling was claimed to have been found during the videographic survey of the mosque area.

On May 17, the Supreme Court, while declining to stay proceedings before the Varanasi court, had asked the Varanasi district magistrate to secure the area where a Shivling was claimed to have been found.

Last Friday, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the pending proceedings to the District Judge, Varanasi, for “trial and all interlocutory and ancillary proceedings”. It said the suit “should be tried before a senior and experienced judicial officer of the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service”.