Abhishek Singhvi stunned as court orders Kashi temple survey; Muslim Law Board to contest

In latest development, Muslim Personal Law Board and  UP Sunni Central Waqf Board are likely to challenge a Varanasi court's orders to conduct an archaeological survey at Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque premises. court's order came on a plea filed by Vijay Shankar Rastogi who contended that entire premises belonged to temple alone. Opposing orders of  Civil Judge, Muslim Personal Law Board's Zafaryab Jilani claimed that order was totally wrong and that no or court h jurisdiction to pass orders as matter was alrey pending before High Court. Terming order as 'illegal and unjustified', Muslim Personal Law Board member informed that decision would be challenged at district court or High Court. 

Uttar Presh Sunni Central Waqf Board noted that  Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 h barred such surveys from being conducted at premises of  Gyanvapi Masjid. Board's chairman Zufar Ahm Faruqi claimed that no evidence h been produced to court so far to prove prior existing temple at site of mosque and that  status of Gyanvapi Masjid is, as such, beyond question as Places of Worship Act was upheld by a 5 judge Constitution Bench of Supreme Court in Ayodhya judgment. He informed of Board's decision to approach High Court to challenge 'unwarranted order' and claimed that Archeological Survey of India (ASI) needed to stop 'investigating mosques'. Congress MP and senior vocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi noted that Places of Worship Act, 1991 prohibited inquiry into places of worship including Kashi and Mathura and claimed that it was astonishing for judge to pass interim orders as it could only be done so after Act was struck down. 

UP court orders survey at Kashi Vishwanath temple

Asserting that original Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built over 2000 years ago, petitioner Vijay Shankar Rastogi claimed that Gyanvapi Mosque was constructed after temple was demolished by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1669. temple was re-constructed by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780. He also maintained that Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 was not applicable to this suit. Barring for litigation on Ayodhya land dispute, this law prohibited courts from entertaining any petition that would alter status quo of a religious place as existed on August 15, 1947. Moreover, Rastogi cited outcome of  Ayodhya land dispute to highlight that issue can be resolved with excavation by Archaeological Survey of India.

Agreeing with this prayer, Civil Judge Ashutosh Tewari directed a 5-member ASI team to study entire premises, cost of which will be borne by Uttar Presh government. On or hand, Sunni Central Waqf Board h pleed that  situation as it was on August 15, 1947, should continue. It has now decided to challenge this order before Allahab High Court. Soon after verdict, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy exuded confidence in taking matter to its logical conclusion.