Gyanvapi survey to continue, says court
DISMISSING A PLEA BY ANJUMAN INTEZAMIA MASAJID COMMITTEE TO LIMIT THE INQUIRY IN THE MOSQUE, THE COURT SAID THE SURVEY MUST BE DONE BY MAY 17
VARANASI: A Varanasi court on Thursday refused to stop the survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex and said the exercise must be completed by May 17, marking a crucial turn in the decades-old religious dispute over Hindu claims to the Muslim prayer site.
Civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar dismissed a plea by Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, to limit the inquiry to certain parts of the premises and remove the present surveyor, and directed day-to-day survey of the complex until its conclusion.
Mishra retained as advocate commissioner The judge retained Ajai Kumar Mishra as the advocate commissioner, who was appointed last month to carry out the survey, while adding two more lawyers, Vishal Singh and Ajay Pratap Singh, to the commission that will inspect, conduct videography, and collect evidence regarding the alleged existence of Hindu deities inside the mosque complex, which abuts the Kashi Vishistrate wanath temple in Varanasi. It directed that Ajai Kumar Mishra and Vishal Singh will conduct the survey.
In its order, the civil judge clarified that the advocate commissioners will have the right to collect evidence from any part of the mosque complex, and that no hindrance shall be caused by anyone in the conduct of this exercise.
“If anybody creates impediment in the exercise by the court commissioners, the district administration must register a first information report (FIR) and take strict action. In any condition, the court commissioner’s exercise shall not stop,” stated the court order, seeking the commission’s report on May 17.
Making Varanasi district magbehind
and police commissioner personally accountable, the court further directed that the district administration and the police must render all cooperation to the advocate commissioners and ascertain that the survey is completed as soon as possible. It ordered that the district officials and police be authorised to break open any lock, if required.
Petition filed by five women
The survey was ordered by the court on April 26 on a 2021 petition by five women who sought worship rights at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal, a shrine for Hindu goddess Parvati located behind the western wall of the mosque complex. The exercise commenced on May 6 in the presence of all the parties amid tight security, triggering protests. But on May 7, the survey could not continue following objections from the advocates of the mosque management committee.
The five Hindu women had asked for year-long access to pray at the site which is currently opened for prayers once a year. The women also want permission to pray to other “visible and invisible deities within the old temple complex”.