The Varanasi district court on Monday completed hearing of arguments in the the Gyanvapi mosque case and reserved its decision until tomorrow.
District court judge AK Vishvesha was hearing a civil suit in the case.
Only 23 people, including 19 counsels and four petitioners, were allowed inside the courtroom during the hearing.
Lawyers of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which managed the iconic mosque in UP, urged the court to decide first whether the Hindu petitioners’ case was maintainable under Places of Worship Act, 1991. Further, raising its objections, the Muslim side said that the namaz was being offered there since 1936.
The Hindu petitioners requested the court to include photographs and video with the survey report of the mosque complex as part of its hearing.
The hearing began in the court days after the Supreme Court said it would not interfere with the Gyanvapi mosque survey and transferred the case to the lower court, while noting the “complexities and sensitivities involved in the matter” would require a “more senior and experienced hand”.
