A Varanasi District Court on Monday in a key ruling in the ongoing Gyanvapi Mosque case said a plea seeking daily prayer at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal inside the complex was maintainable and Places of Worship Act does not apply.

The court of District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha rejected an application moved under Rule 7 Order 11 of Civil Procedure Code (CPC).

Counsel of Hindu side, Vishnu Shankar Jain said, “The court of District Judge has ruled that the case is maintainable in the court of law and has rejected the application moved by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee under Rule 7 Order 11 of Civil Procedure Code (CPC) that Places of Worship Act (Special Provisions).

Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee’s counsel Merajuddin Siddiqui said they will move the high court against the district judge’s order.

The court fixed September 22 as the next date of hearing.

On August 24, the district court had reserved its order on the maintainability of a plea seeking permission for daily worship at Shringar Gauri Sthal and other deities inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex premises.

Earlier the plaint was being heard in the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division), which ordered a videography survey of the site on the request of the Hindu side.

It was during videography survey signs of Hindu symbols like a Shivling-like structure and others were found inside the ‘wazookhana’ and other places.

Later the Muslim side moved the Supreme Court, which ordered to transfer the case to the District Court.

Earlier on Monday prohibitory orders were imposed in the district ahead of the verdict. The Varanasi Commissionerate issued the order and asked officers to hold talks with various religious leaders in their respective areas to ensure peace.

Varanasi Police Commissioner A Satish Ganesh said that to maintain law and order and peace, the city has been divided into sectors and the police force have been deployed as per the sensitivity of the area.

He said that flag march and foot march were being carried out in highly sensitive areas.

Along with this checking on the borders along with guest houses, hotels were being done in the wake of the sensitivity of the case.

(With UNI inputs)