Resolution of the Gyanvapi disputes is a long way off, with both sides refusing mediation
View of Gyanvapi Mosque. File. | Photo credit: The Hindu
Lawyers familiar with the matter said on Wednesday (Jul 15, 2026) that the Gyanvapi dispute is likely to take longer to resolve after both the Hindu and Muslim sides in Varanasi rejected mediation, saying the matter should be settled by the courts. This happened following the initiative of the Supreme Court to seek an amicable resolution of the case. Further action would now mean a renewed process of formal court hearings, procedural requirements, frequent adjournments and delays in gathering evidence.
The Hindu side claims that the Gyanvapi Mosque was built after the demolition of the temple during the Mughal period, while the Muslim side claims that it is a valid Waqf property and disputes the Hindus’ claims.
“Since both parties have refused mediation, the dispute will not be settled out of court. The case will now proceed to standard litigation or arbitration… it will be a time-consuming process,” said Adarsh Tiwari, a Lucknow-based lawyer.
Both parties appeared before the mediation center at the Varanasi court on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) as part of the apex court’s initiative called “Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Harmonization of Disputes Across the Nation” to promote settlement of pending cases before the special Lok Adalat23 scheduled for August 21. The cases – Rakhi Singh vs. Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee vs. Shailendra Pathak Vyas and others, Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee vs. Lakshmi Devi and others – were brought up for mediation in a session before the Lok Adalat.
Rajesh Mishra, special public prosecutor in the Gyanvapi case representing the UP government, said the mediation panel included Additional District Judge Alok Kumar, Civil Judge (Lower Division) Nitin Singh and senior advocate Mahendra Pandey. “Both parties appeared before the mediation panel during a hearing at the District Legal Services Office and refused to resolve the Gyanvapi case through mediation,” he told local media.
Puja allowed
In January 2024, the District Court of Varanasi allowed a puja in the Vyas Tehkhana, the southern basement of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The Allahabad High Court then dismissed the Gyanvapi Mosque Committee’s appeal challenging the District Court order and directed the Varanasi District Magistrate to make necessary arrangements for the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust to conduct the worship rituals.
Published – 16 Jul 2026 08:29 IST