Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the maintainability of a civil suit filed by Hindu women worshippers seeking the right to worship inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. The petition was filed by Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee.

The High Court decision would allow the case to continue in a local Varanasi court.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid (AIM) Committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board filed the petition in the Allahabad high court. The court dismissed the case, arguing that this does not fall under the Places of Worship Act of 1991. 

The Muslime side have challenged the decision of the Varanasi district court, which had previously dismissed their objection to the suit.

Rakhi Singh and nine others, including five women, filed a civil suit in the Varanasi court seeking the regular worship of Shringar Gauri in the Gyanvapi mosque premises. 

Since April 2021, the matter has been in the courts. It all started when a Varanasi court directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

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