Thread by @LawBeatInd

🚨Allahabad High Court resumes hearing in Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque dispute case(s).
#kashi #mosque #temple #Varanasi

https://twitter.com/LawBeatInd/status/1507236333940785156

Adv. Puneet Kumar Gupta appears for the parties contesting the Gyanvapi mosque being situated on the land in dispute.
#kashi #mosque #temple #Varanasi

Gupta reads out the relief sought in the suit by Ancient Idol of Swayambhu Lord Vishweshwar filed in 1991 for restoration of performance of rituals at the principal seat of Asthan of Lord Visheshwar and other gods within the precincts of temple complex known as 'Ancient Temple'.

Gupta: Relief no. (1) A decree to reconstruct and renovate the old temple and the defendant(the Gyanvapi mosque) be directed to not obstructed the same in any manner.
#kashi #mosque #temple #Varanasi

Gupta: Relief no. (2) A decree to give effect to the eviction of the defendants and to restrain them from interfering in possession of the plaintiff over the property.
#kashi #mosque #temple #Varanasi

Gupta: These were the two reliefs that were sought in the 1991 suit. Though 'Asthan Lord Adi Visheshwar, Jyotirlinga' was damaged in 1669 under the orders of Mughal Ruler Aurangzeb but other subsidiary deities continued to exist within the ancient temple.
#kashi #temple #mosque

Gupta: Now this ancient temple is claimed by Muslims to be part of the “Gyanvapi Mosque”.
#kashi #temple #mosque #Varanasi

Gupta: The Central Govt. brought an act named Places of worship Act with effect from 18th September 1991.

Court seeks a copy of the Act copy for reference.
#kashi #temple #mosque #Varanasi

Gupta reads from the Act: 'An Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."

Gupta: While bringing this law, the legislature was very clear that whatever be the nature of a religious place on August 15, 1947, that will be maintained as it was thereafter and its conversion was also prohibited.
#kashi #varanasi #Temples

Court: Okay, the conversion was prohibited.
Gupta: Yes, if a place was a masjid, it was to remain the same and if it was a temple it was supposed to remain the same as well.
#kashi #varanasi #Temples

Gupta: The suit for restoration of the land to Hindus was filed after the commencement of the Act in October 1991.
#kashi #varanasi #Temples

He further reads Section 3 from the Act.
#kashi #varanasi #Temples

He argues that the Act provides that the nature of the religious place as it was on August 15, 1947, was to be maintained, however, the ancient temple was demolished in the year 1869, and thereafter it was used as a mosque.

He further reads subsection 2 of section 4 of the Act.
#Kashi #temple #mosque #conversion

Court enquires what exactly the term 'conversion' means in Section 4(3) of the Act and asks the counsel to clarify the same on the next hearing.
#kashi #temple #mosque

Court: If you are seeking the benefit of Section 4(3) of the Act, then you must prepare a stronger case on this point.
#kashi #temple #mosque

Advocate Rastogi now begins his arguments. He says that the whole emphasis is being put upon the term '#conversion' here whereas, since ancient times, the land in question was a temple and still remains the same.
#kashi #temple #mosque

He places documents in support of this contention. He also alleges that the temple had to be reconstructed a few times although the 18th-century temple was preserved despite the fact that there was a Muslim dynasty at that time.
#kashi #temple #mosque

He also cites recorded incidents where a Mughal officer visited the place and met one Narayan Bhatt who had played his role in building the first floor of the new temple.
#kashi #temple #mosque

He apprises court that thereafter the first floor of the temple was demolished. He also refers to one Gyan koop.
Photographs and text from ancient books have also been placed before the bench in support of the existence of the temple on the disputed land.
#kashi #temple #mosque

He also alleges in an underground place above which now the Gynavpi mosque stands, aartis, and other rituals used to be performed.
#kashi #temple #mosque

Photographs in support of these contentions have also been placed before the bench.
#kashi #temple #mosque #conversion

Hearing over. Arguments to continue in the instant plea and other connected matters on April 4.
#kashi #temple #mosque #conversion

IMPORTANT: When the other party sought time till May, Advocate Rastogi expressed his wish that the hearing in the case(s) should get concluded before Navratri.
#kashi #temple #mosque #conversion

It was argued that the religious nature of the land in question was never changed as the temple of Lord Visheshwar has been in existence from ancient times, i.e., Satyug up till now.
@ISalilTiwari reports
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