Varanasi: The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (AIM), which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, has declined the Supreme Court’s proposal to explore an amicable settlement of the Gyanvapi dispute through mediation during the proposed Special Lok Adalat in Aug, saying the matter is too sensitive to be resolved through conciliation and should be decided solely through the judicial process.Reacting to the Supreme Court’s ‘Samadhan Samaroh 2026’ initiative, under which litigants have been invited for pre-conciliation meetings ahead of the Special Lok Adalat scheduled from Aug 21, AIM joint secretary S.M. Yasin said on Monday that the mosque committee had collectively decided not to participate in the process.“Our stand is clear. Although the process is voluntary and based on consent, we have decided not to participate. The Gyanvapi dispute is a highly sensitive matter and will be contested only through the judicial process and in accordance with the law,” Yasin said.He added that while the committee respects peaceful resolution of disputes, issues involving the Gyanvapi mosque, ownership rights and the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, should be adjudicated by courts rather than through mediation or Lok Adalat proceedings. He also said the Muslim side would not relinquish its claim over the mosque and, therefore, saw no justification for participating in conciliation talks.Several cases relating to the Gyanvapi dispute are currently pending before courts. The oldest, Original Suit No. 610 of 1991, seeking the removal of the mosque from the disputed site, is being pursued by advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi as the “next friend” of the deity and is pending before a Fast Track Court.Significant developments took place between 2022 and 2024 in Suit No. 693 of 2021 (later renumbered as Suit No. 18 of 2022 after its transfer to the district judge’s court), filed by Rakhi Singh and others, seeking the right to worship Shringar Gauri within the Gyanvapi complex. During this period, the court ordered an ASI survey, its report was submitted, and worship was also permitted in the southern cellar of the complex.Several other individuals and organisations have also filed petitions or sought to be impleaded in the ongoing litigation. However, there were no major developments in the Gyanvapi cases during 2025.
