Gyanvapi dispute resolution set for the long haul, with both sides saying no to mediation

Lawyers familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that the resolution of the Gyanvapi dispute is likely to take longer after both the Hindu and Muslim parties in Varanasi rejected mediation and suggested that the issue should be resolved by the courts. This follows an attempt by the Supreme Court to seek an amicable resolution in the case. Next steps will now require a renewed process of formal court hearings, procedural requirements, frequent adjournments and delays in gathering evidence.

While the Hindu side claims that the Gyanvapi mosque was built after the destruction of a temple during the Mughal period, the Muslim side claims that it is a valid waqf property and disputes the claims of the Hindus.

“The dispute will not be resolved out of court as both parties have refused mediation. The case will now go to standard litigation or arbitration… which will be a time-consuming process,” said Adarsh ​​Tiwari, a Lucknow-based lawyer.

Both the parties appeared before the mediation center in the Varanasi court on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, under the top court’s initiative titled ‘Supreme Court Case for Mediation and Harmonization of Disputes Across the Country’, which aims to promote resolution of outstanding cases ahead of the special Lok Adalat scheduled to be held from August 21-23. Cases like Rakhi Singh and Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, Shailendra Pathak Vyas and others, Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, Lakshmi Devi and others were listed for mediation in the pre-Lok Adalat session.

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 (junior division) Nitin Singh and senior advocate Mahendra Pandey. “Both parties appeared before the mediation panel during the hearing at the District Legal Services Authority and refused to resolve the Gyanvapi case through mediation,” he told local media.

Puja allowed

In January 2024, the Varanasi District Court had allowed puja to be performed at Vyas Tehkhana, the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque. The Allahabad High Court later dismissed the appeal of the Gyanvapi mosque committee challenging the district court order and directed the Varanasi District Magistrate to make necessary arrangements for the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust to conduct worship rituals.