- Mosque status is beyond question: Faruqi
- Order violates the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which has been upheld by the Supreme Court on many occasions.
By Adbul Bari Masoud
New Delhi/ Lucknow: Expressing deep unhappiness over the Varanasi civil court order of an archaeological survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board on Thursday announced it will challenge the order in higher court. Asserting that The status of Gyanvapi Masjid is beyond question, the UP Board said the order violates the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which has been upheld by the Supreme Court on many occasions.
A civil court in Varanasi today gave its approval for survey of Gyanvapi Mosque and Kashi Vishwanath temple Mosque complex by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The court further directed the Uttar Pradesh government to bear the cost of the survey. The ASI is likely to set up a five-member team that will visit the campus soon.
Speaking to Muslim Mirror, Zufar Ahmad Faruqi, Chairman, U P Sunni Central Waqf Board, said the order of the Civil Judge, Varanasi ordering a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India will be challenged before the Allahabad High Court.
“Our understanding is clear that this case is barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The Places of Worship Act was upheld by a 5 judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya judgment. The status of Gyanvapi Masjid is, as such, beyond question, Faruqi said.
He also underlined that the order of survey is questionable because technical evidence can only supplement certain foundational facts.
In this connection, no evidence has been produced before the Ld. Court that suggests that there was a prior existing temple at the site of the mosque.
Referring to Babri Masjid title judgment, the Board chairman pointed out that even in the Ayodhya judgment, the ASI excavation was ultimately of no use and the ASI did not find proof that the Babri Masjid was built upon demolition of a temple. He also underscored that the Supreme Court has specifically observed that there was no such evidence.
The UP Waqf board wants that this practice of mosques being ‘investigated’ by the ASI has to be stopped and it will approach the High court immediately against this unwarranted order, he added.
Waqf board knows there is a mandir below the mosque and hence opposing the survey. But we are confident that the truth will prevail.
How are you sure that mandir existed there earlier? No masjid is built on an unholy place. So that itself is proof enough and invalidates your argument which rests on lies and fake narratives.
Sunni wakf board will win.. inshallah .. but this us disturbing trend
This is not going to stop they all claim all indian masjid as their mandjir
There is no evidence available that the is Mandir below the mosque. Even if there was mandir in past, there is no need to demolish any praying structure due to laspse of long time period . No need to dig any grave or samadhi to find bone remains of dead person . It is too late now … and will amount to desecrate the place of worship ( mosque in this case ).