Vol. 67 No. 128 | TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 27, 2024 | 26 Pages | `5 & for Pune `6 only Quality at Value www.freepressjournal.in EDITIONS: MUMBAI*, Pune, Nashik, Konkan, Indore, Bhopal, E-paper PUJA TO CONTINUE IN GYANVAPI MOSQUE Allahabad High Court affirmed the district court’s stance, allowing the continuation of worship in the southern cellar of Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque BISWAJEET BANERJEE LUCKNOW The Allahabad High Court on Monday affirmed the district court's stance, allowing the continuation of worship in the southern cellar of Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal dismissed appeals presented by the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee, challenging the district court's directives concerning the "Vyas Tehkhana" or southern cellar of the mosque. The High Court's pronouncement upheld the Varanasi district court's order on January 17 and January 31, designating the district magistrate as the receiver of the cellar and granting permission for the performance of "puja" (worship) in that space, respectively . Justice Agarwal, in his statement, declared, "After a comprehensive review of the entire case records and due consideration of arguments from all involved parties, the court found no grounds to overturn the district judge's orders." The verdict follows a period of deliberation, with the High Court judge reserving judgment on February 15 after hearings from both sides. The Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee, responsible for overseeing the management of the Gyanvapi mosque, had sought recourse from the High Court on February 2 after the Supreme Court redirected them to pursue legal remedies at the high court level. The district court's decision on January 31 allowed a Hindu priest, nominated by the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust, to conduct prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the mosque. This decision came after the petitioner Shailendra Kumar Pathak, claimed his grandfather's legacy of performing rituals in the cellar until December 1993 and demanded that his family should be allowed to continue that Puja. In response to the court's ruling, Advocate Prabhash Pandey said: "The judge dismissed the pleas filed by the Muslim side against the District Judge's order, thereby affirming the continuation of Puja activities. This verdict is a significant victory for Sanatana Dharma. While the Muslim side reserves the option for a review, Puja will persist." CONTD. ON NATION MEA extracts many Indians working with Russian army PTI / NEW DELHI Several Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian army were discharged following India's demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday . It said India remains committed, as a matter of "top priority", to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army . According to media reports, several Indians have been working as security helpers in the Russian military and they were forced to even fight with Russian soldiers in certain areas along Russia's border with Ukraine. "We have seen some inaccurate reports in the media regarding Indians with the Russian army seeking help for discharge," the MEA said in a statement. "Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities and those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian embassy in New Delhi," it said. The MEA added, "Several Indians have already been discharged as a result." CONTD. ON NATION ‘Ensure women get fair deal in Coast Guard’ PTI / NEW DELHI Declaring that women cannot be left out, the Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to ensure that women are granted permanent commission in the Indian Coast Guard and said the court will do it if the government doesn’t. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said this while taking note of submissions by Attorney General R Venkataramani that there were some functional and operational difficulties in granting permanent commissions “All these functionality, etc, argument does not hold water in the year 2024. Women cannot be left out. If you do not do it, we will do it. So take a look at that,” the CJI said. to Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs). “ these functionality etc, All , argument does not hold water in the year 2024. Women cannot be left out. If you do not do it, we will do it. So take a look at that,” the CJI said. The Attorney General also apprised the bench that a board has been set up by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to look into the issues. “You must have women on board,” the bench said, fixing the plea for hearing on Friday as the matter could not be taken up due to paucity of time on Monday . Previously the bench had , said that the maritime force must come up with a policy , which treats women “fairly”. The top court was hearing a plea filed by Indian Coast Guard officer Priyanka Tyagi seeking the grant of permanent commission to eligible women short-service commission officers of the force. “You speak of ‘nari shakti’ (woman power). Now show it here. You are in the deep end of the sea in this matter. You must come up with a policy , which treats women fairly ,” the bench had observed then. It had also asked whether the Union was still adopting “a patriarchal approach” despite the judgments of the top court on the grant of permanent commission to women officers in the three armed forces — Army Air Force and , the Navy . CONTD. ON NATION