Mangaluru court admits VHP plea seeking survey of Malali masjid

MANGALURU: In a minor victory for the Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP), a local court has admitted its petition seeking a survey at the disputed Malali mosque, while rejecting the mosque administrative committee’s appeal against any such measure.

Around the same time the Gyanvapi masjid controvery erupted, another row broke out in Mangaluru regarding the Malali mosque here. On April 21 this year, when the Asayed Abdullahil Madani masjid was being renovated, Hindu motifs were revealed on the mosque walls, leading to questions whether it was earlier a temple.

The VHP had approached the district administration to stop the renovation work and approached the Third Additional Civil Court seeking a survey of the site. The masjid committee, however, had sought a stay on the appeal.

After prolonged hearing, the court has now admitted the plea seeking that a survey can be carried out. It has also posted for hearing the petition for further hearing to January 8, 2023.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishat’s lawyer Chidanand Kediyal.

“The court has rejected the masjid committee’s contention that only the wakf tribunal has jurisdiction in the matter and has accepted the VHP’s appeal. The Places of Worship Act does not apply in this case. The court has directed both parties to commence arguments”, said VHP’s lawyer Chidananda Kediyal.

Vishwa Hindu Parishat leader Sharan Pumpwell said, “This is a victory for the beliefs of Hindus and we welcome the court order. We have maintained that there was an old temple at that site. During the tamboola prashne too, it was revealed that there Lord Shiva was being worshipped there. We will continue the fight legally and we have trust in the judicial process. We hope to see a grand temple at the site in the coming days. I will also appeal to the Muslim community.”

VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell speaking to the media after a local court admitted their appeal.

A Hindu temple-like architectural design was discovered underneath the Asayed Abdullahil Madani on the outskirts of Mangaluru on April 21. The development came to the fore during renovation work at the dargah in Malali, on the outskirts of Mangaluru. Following this, people had suggesteed that there is every possibility that a Hindu temple existed at the site.

In May, famous Kerala astrologer Puduval G P Gopalakrishna Panicker conducted the ‘tamboola prashne’ (betel leaf astrology) and said a Shiva temple did exist at the site and perhaps belonged to the Lingayats. The ‘tamboola prashne’ was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal at the Malali Ramanjaneya Bhajan Mandir, a little distance away from the Asyed Abdullahil Madani dargah.

In May, the VHP had organised a tamboola prashne.

According to Panicker, a Hindu math did exist where pujas and other rituals were conducted. Some artefacts, including idols of gods, may have been shifted elsewhere and people may have abandoned the place after the death of someone. More clues will be found if the site is excavated, he had said. There was a Lingayat math at Gurupura, which is closeby, he had noted.

The astrologer also said after the holy site was damaged, it is difficult to build a new one. Protection of the site is the responsibility of the present owners. If the dispute is not resolved, it may cause problems for everyone in the village and hence, all should unitedly work towards a solution, he suggested. Panicker also said it is in the interest of the Muslim community to restore the Hindu holy site.