Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Monday adjourned till Oct 6 the hearing of a case seeking an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque’s wazukhana area, excluding the structure claimed by the Hindu side to be a Shivling and by the Muslim side to be a fountain.Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal passed the order on a civil revision petition filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs before a Varanasi court.The HC deferred the matter after being informed that the issue is also under consideration before the Supreme Court, where the next date of hearing is Sept 15.During the hearing on Monday, Saurabh Tiwari, along with Amit Shukla and Vikash Kumar, appeared for Rakhi Singh. Vineet Sankalp appeared for respondent Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Trust. Appearing for another respondent, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, Varanasi, counsel Syed Ahmed Faizan informed the court that the matter is engaging the attention of the Supreme Court and that the next hearing there is scheduled for Sept 15.In view of this submission, the court deferred the proceedings and directed that the case be listed on Oct 6, along with connected matters.The revision petition was filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs in the Shringar Gauri worship suit pending before a Varanasi court. It challenges the Varanasi district judge’s order dated Oct 21, 2023, which refused to direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the wazukhana (ablution pond) area, excluding the disputed structure inside the Gyanvapi mosque.The civil revision petition seeks setting aside of the district judge’s order and directions for an ASI survey of the wazukhana area, excluding the structure claimed by the Hindu side as a Shivling and by the Muslim side as a fountain.
