Gyanvapi mosque case: Varanasi court begins hearing on petition seeking change of official
VARANASI: A local court in Varanasi on Monday began hearing the Gyanvapi mosque management committee’s application to change the advocate commissioner appointed by the court to conduct a survey of Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal (place) in the Kashi Vishwanath-gyanvapi complex. The survey includes videography and inspection of Gyanvapi premises.
An objection to the application for removal of Ajai Kumar, the court commissioner, was also filed on Monday by the advocates representing the petitioners who have sought permission for daily worship at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal located in the Kashi Vishwanath-gyanvapi complex in Varanasi.
“We filed a reply in the court of civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar against the petition filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (which manages the Gyanvapi mosque) seeking removal of advocate commissioner Ajai Kumar,” said Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, one of the advocates representing the plaintiffs — Rakhi Singh from Delhi, Manju Vyas, Lakshmi Devi, Sita Sahu and Rekha Pathak, all from Varanasi.
The petitioners in their plea filed on August 18 last year sought the permission to perform daily worship of deities Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and Nandi whose idols are on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque.
After hearing inconclusive arguments from the two sides, the civil judge listed the matter for further hearing on Tuesday. On Saturday, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee filed the petition seeking Ajai
Kumar’s removal alleging him of being “bias”. “The allegation by the lawyers of the Masjid committee that the advocate commissioner is biased and conducting the survey keeping in view the interest of plaintiffs is baseless,” Chaturvedi said.
No withdrawal of case
Meanwhile i n an apparent U-turn, Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh chief Jitendra Singh Vishen on Monday said petitioner Rakhi Singh was not withdrawing the case seeking permission for daily worship at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal.