BANGALORE: In a significant development, a Karnataka court on Wednesday ruled out the Malali Mosque management's petition to dismiss the request for a survey of the mosque.
The Additional Civil Court hearing the case in its verdict also said that the case could be tried in the civil court. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) petition was contested and sought to be quashed by the management committee of the Malali mosque.
The Waqf Board owns the land on which the Malali Masjid is located, said the mosque management, and any dispute relating to this must be handled in a Waqf-related court. The court, however, rejected these claims.
On January 8, 2023, the petition filed by the VHP asking for the appointment of a court commissioner in the vein of the Gyanvapi Masjid will be heard.
The VHP applauded the decision. According to the group's chairman Sharan Pumpwell, a compromise might be reached with the mosque's administration. He promised that "the matter would be pursued legally" in order to erect a temple there.
As of now, Hindu organisations had submitted a petition seeking that the mosque is to be surveyed along the same lines as the Gyanvapi mosque in Uttar Pradesh. This happened after a Hindu temple construction was discovered during the mosque's refurbishment.
The management of the mosque and Muslim organisations challenged this, saying the court lacked jurisdiction to look into the situation. On Monday, the court was due to issue its ruling in this case.
The Karnataka municipal court had already set aside November 9 in the state's Dakshina Kannada district. After reserving the decisions, the Mangaluru Third Additional Civil Court subsequently ordered that the status quo be upheld on the masjid's property.
The communally sensitive seaside region's security had been stepped up by the state police department.
Karnataka: 3 arrested in retired IB officers' murder case
Horrific road accident in K'taka, 7 women labourers died
UCC will be implemented in the country! Central govt waiting for the commission's report
