Hindu plaintiffs suit not maintainable, says mosque panel
The HinduThe Anjuman Intenzamia Masjid Committee, representing the management of the Gyanvapi Mosque, began its arguments on Thursday in District and Sessions court, Varanasi. It is challenging the maintainability of the Hindu plaintiffs’ suit under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Senior Advocates Abhay Nath Yadav and Mumtaz Ahmad, appearing for the Muslims’ side, argued that the Places of Worship Act, 1991, barred the suit and it was not maintainable. Advocate Ranjana Agnihotri, a lawyer representing one of the plaintiffs, said the Muslims’ side read out portions of their suit on Thursday to start their submissions. The suit currently being heard by the Varanasi district court has been filed by five Hindu women and seeks the right to pray at a Hindu shrine behind the western wall of the mosque all year round.