The Allahabad High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict in a plea brought forth by Muslim parties, contesting a Varanasi court's ruling permitting Hindu parties to conduct prayers and rituals in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Mosque.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee lodged a petition challenging a district court's decision on January 31st, which allowed Hindu prayers to take place in the southern cellar or basement (tekhana) of the Gyanvapi Mosque.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal concluded hearing the arguments and reserved the verdict.

The order in question was issued amidst an ongoing civil court case entailing conflicting assertions regarding the religious designation of the Gyanvapi compound.

The Hindu party has contended, among other assertions, that Hindu prayers were historically conducted by Somnath Vyas and his family within the mosque's cellar until 1993, when the government led by Mulayam Singh Yadav purportedly intervened to halt the practice.

The Hindu party has put forth, among other arguments, that Hindu prayers were earlier conducted by Somnath Vyas and his family within the mosque's cellar until 1993, when the government led by Mulayam Singh Yadav purportedly intervened to cease the practice.

The Muslim party has contested this assertion and asserted that Muslims have consistently maintained possession of the mosque building. During today's hearing, Senior Advocate SFA Naqvi, representing the Gyanvapi Mosque committee, argued that the district judge committed a significant error by appointing the district magistrate (DM) as the receiver.

Naqvi further emphasized that appointing the district magistrate (DM) as the receiver led to a conflict of interests.

Advocate Vishnu Jain, representing the Hindu party, submitted that the documents they provided indicated that the tehkhana/southern cellar had always been in their possession.