Plea for advocate commissioner removal to be opposed in court
VARANASI: Advocates of the plaintiffs on Sunday said they will file an objection in the court of the civil judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar here on May 9 ( Monday) against a petition that seeks the removal or replacement of the court-appointed advocate commissioner Ajai Kumar who has been tasked with carrying out a survey of the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal in the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, filed the petition on Saturday for removing or replacing the current advocate commissioner in the court of the civil judge (senior division). After hearing the petition on Saturday, the court fixed May 9 for the next hearing.
The advocate commissioner and his team could not conduct a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi on Saturday as advocates of the Anjuman Intezamia Committee opposed the exercise, another advocate said. Saturday was the second day of the exercise.
“We will file an objection in the court of civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar on May 9 against the petition filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee seeking removal of advocate commissioner Ajai Kumar,” said Sudhir Tripathi, who is one of the advocates representing the plaintiffs Rakhi Singh, Manju Vyas, Sita Sahu and Rekha Pathak, who filed a petition in court in 2021, seeking permission for daily worship at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal.
“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 the plaintiffs is completely baseless,” Tripathi said.
Abhay Nath Yadav, an advocate of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee, said, “We filed a petition in the court of the civil Judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar, urging the court to remove or replace the advocate commissioner Ajai Kumar with a senior lawyer because (on the first day) he conducted the proceeding of the survey as per wish of the advocates of the petitioners (seeking permission for daily worship at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal).”
After hearing the matter, the court directed the plaintiffs and advocate commissioner to present his side in the court on the date (May 9), said Abhay Nath Yadav.
A copy of the order by the court was delivered to the advocate commissioner and the petitioners, he added.
They have been directed to come with all documents and evidences to present their side.
CASE REGISTERED FOR HINDERING GOVT WORK
In the meantime, a case was registered against one Abdul Salam and five unidentified people for creating hindrance in government work, spreading hatred between two communities and disturbing the peace on Saturday, a police officer said and added that five others were being identified from video clippings.
Abdul and several others reportedly shouted slogans opposing the survey when the team arrived at the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Complex on Saturday. Abdul has been arrested and further investigation is on.