Disputed Gyanvapi Masjid verdict: Court okays filming inside Masjid, retains commissioner

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Varanasi, May 12: The court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar gave the verdict regarding survey of Gyanvapi Masjid premises on Thursday .

The court has ruled that Survey Commissioner Advocate Ajay Mishra will not be removed. The court has appointed two more special and assistant commissioners.

The court has ordered that the survey will be conducted before May 17. The court has said that the survey should be completed before May 17. Commission survey and videography should not be hindered.

The court has ordered to present the survey report on May 17. The survey proceedings will be done with the district administration. The survey will be conducted from 9 am to 12 noon. Action will be taken against those creating obstacles.

The special court commissioner appointed by the court is Vishal Kumar Singh and assistant court commissioner Ajay Singh. The court also rejected the demand of the Anjuman Prajatania Committee to change the Advocate Commissioner. It was clarified that Ajay Kumar Mishra would continue as Advocate Commissioner. He will have to submit the full survey report in the court by May 17. No outsider except plaintiffs, defendants, advocates, advocate commissioners, their assistants and persons related to commission proceedings can attend the commission proceedings.

The court, while making important remarks, said that it is incomprehensible that it can be seen that the officers of the district administration do not consider it proper to comply with the order of the court due to their arrogance. The officers do not even follow the directions given by the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court.

Therefore, the court has ordered the DGP and the Chief Secretary of the state to monitor the entire action. Before the verdict, there was turmoil in the court since afternoon.

Elaborate security arrangements were made outside the court. As soon as the court’s order came, a group of advocates raised the slogan of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and expressed happiness.

At the same time, the advocates of the plaintiffs also expressed happiness and fed each other sweets. Earlier on Wednesday, the petition filed for change of court commissioner was heard again. The counsel for the plaintiff and the defendant side presented their arguments in the court. After the completion of the hearing, the court had reserved its decision.

It may be noted that the advocates of the respondent Anjuman Inazaniya Masajid Committee had filed an application in the court on May 7, objecting to the Advocate Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra appointed for the survey from the court. Advocates for the respondent side say that the Advocate Commissioner is not doing the survey work in a fair manner, but he is working like a party. So the court should appoint another commissioner.

On the petition of the respondent, the court asked the plaintiff and the advocate commissioner to file their case.

Five women, including Rakhi Singh, a resident of Delhi, had filed a petition in the court on August 18 2021 for regular worship at Shringar Gauri located inside the Gyanvapi Masjid complex.

By filing a petition in the court of Civil Judge Senior Division Ravi Kumar Diwakar, the women have urged for regular worship of Shringar Gauri and other Deities located in Kashi Vishwanath Dham-Gyanvapi complex as before 1991.

Complete sequence of events

Advocate Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra, appointed on the order of the court, started surveying the Gyanvapi premises on May 6 in the presence of both the plaintiff and the respondent. Initially, only videography of Shringar Gauri’s Deity and walls could be done.

Meanwhile, due to the day of Jumma, huge number of Muslims reached the Gyanvapi Mosque to offer Namaz leading to which religious sloganeering, ruckus and uproar regarding the survey.

The advocates of the respondent side had also impeded the survey work alleging that the Advocate Commissioner was acting as a party like the plaintiff.

On the second day on May 7th, the advocates of the respondent side filed an application in the court for the removal of the court commissioner. Survey work resumed in the mosque in the afternoon.

The plaintiffs alleged that more than 500 Muslims are inside the mosque and stopped them for survey. He alleged that the administration did not cooperate in this matter. Then on May 9, during the hearing in the court, the plaintiff side said that the Advocate Commissioner is doing his job properly. Baseless allegations are being levelled against him to obstruct the survey. Videography and verification should be allowed inside Gyanvapi.

On May 10, there was an argument between the lawyers of both the sides in the court for one and a half hours.

During this, the advocates argued on the replacement of the Advocate Commissioner and the survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid.

The respondent side, Anjuman Inaztiya Masajid Committee, had sought time till May 11 to give some more facts along with preparation. On this, the court fixed May 12 for hearing also said that if needed, the judge himself will go to the spot.

Respondent not satisfied with the courtโ€™s verdict

The lawyers for the respondent Anjuman Inazaniya Masajid were not satisfied with the judgement of the court. It is believed that the respondent can now appeal again against the decision of the court.