A district court in Varanasi on Thursday rejected the plea to change the court-appointed advocate commissioner for conducting a video survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex and appointed two additional advocate commissioners to assist him. The court also directed for completion of the survey by 17 May and submission of its report, Abhay Nath Yadav, who is representing the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, said. The court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar, which had also heard the matter relating to the opening of the two basements located inside the mosque complex for videography, delivered the verdict after hearing the arguments of both the sides.
The Gyanvapi mosque management committee had filed an application seeking a replacement of court official Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was assigned to do the survey, claiming he was not impartial. Rejecting the request of Anjuman Intejamia Masajid for changing the advocate commissioner in Shringar Gauri worship case, the court of the civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar on Thursday ordered that Ajay Kumar Mishra will continue as
advocate commissioner. The court also appointed Vishal Singh as special advocate commissioner and Ajay Pratap Singh as assistant advocate commissioner.
The court’s strictly directed the district administration to ensure that the survey is not lingered by mentioning reasons. The court has asked to submit the survey report before it on 17 May. As per court’s directive issued on 26 April, the advocate commissioner had started the work of survey and videography in the Gyanvapi premises on 6 May in presence of both parties amidst protests. But the survey was stalled on 7 May due to a protest by AIM.
The AIM also filed a petition in the court on 7 May, requesting for change of advocate commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra while accusing him of working under the pressure of the plaintiffs.
Speaking to the media after the hearing, Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, representing the Hindu petitioners in court, said, “Two more lawyers have been appointed as commissioners to accompany the Court commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra for the survey. The Commission is to submit a report by May 17 before the court.” Two more lawyers were appointed after Mishra was accused of being biased by the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee.
There has been a protest over the survey of several deities, including Shringar Gauri, located in Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath temple premises and the Gyanvapi Masjid complex. The plaintiffs’ lawyer also filed a petition on May 8, praying for court’s direction for the videography of the mosque premises including the basement. It was also requested to direct the local administration and police to ensure the videography. The hearing took place in the court till Wednesday and the court issued its order on the AIM’s petition on Thursday afternoon clearing that advocate commissioner would not be changed but he would be assisted by two more advocates to complete the survey. The court has also cleared that the survey process would not be hampered in case of absence of any of advocates.
The plaintiffs of the Shringar Gauri worship case are Rakhi Singh of Delhi, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas and Rekha Pathak, all natives of Varanasi, who filed the petition on April 18, 2021, seeking permission for daily worship and performing rituals at Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman and Nandi and stopping the opponents from causing any damage to the statues. The respondents of the case include Uttar Pradesh Government, Anjuman Intezamiya Masjid and others.
