A Hindu petitioner’s request to prevent Muslims from crossing the ceiling of Vyasji’s basement at the Gyanvapi mosque complex was briefly heard by a Varanasi court on Saturday. The subject was scheduled for further hearing on August 17. During the hearing, representatives of the Muslim side of the conflict were present. The Muslim side is anticipated to present their case at the next hearing.

The petitioners’ attorney, Madan Mohan Yadav, claims that on January 31, worship started at Vyasji’s basement in accordance with a district court decision and believers can now see the idols placed there. “The roof of Vyasji’s basement is quite old and weak. Muslims walk on the roof to pray, which is not appropriate for the worship site. The basement’s roof and pillars are very fragile, and there is a risk of collapse,” Yadav said.

Yadav further added that the Hindu side has requested that Muslims be prohibited from walking on the roof and that necessary repairs be carried out of the roof and pillars. Yadav added that District Judge Sanjeev Pandey set the next hearing for August 17 after hearing the Hindu side’s concerns.

The local government was instructed by the Varanasi district court on January 31 to make arrangements for Hindus to perform religious ceremonies inside one of the closed basements (Vyasji ka tehkhana) of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report, which claimed that a Hindu temple had existed at the location before the mosque was built, was given to the litigants by the court six days before the order’s issuance.

The court specifically ordered that puja be permitted in the mosque complex’s southern cellar by a priest.

(with inputs from PTI)