The court-appointed Advocate Commissioner Advocate Ajay Kumar will lead the videography inspection in the Gyanvapi mosque complex today. As a precautionary measure, the administration has deployed large number of security forces to deal with any tense situation.
On May 1, the Anjuman Intejamiya Masjid (management committee of the Gyanvapi mosque) had said that it will not allow any non-believer to enter the mosque and will not allow the videography inside the mosque.
A team of 36 people-led by the Court Commissioner will start the inspection at 3 pm on Friday (May 6). To deal with any tense situation during the inspection, the Varanasi administration has made special arrangements.
“We will not allow anyone’s entry in the mosque premises for videography and survey. We are ready to face the consequences of our actions,” Anjuman Intejamiya Masjid joint secretary SM Yasin had said.
A court in Varanasi had ordered videography of the mosque premises. On April 18, it appointed Advocate Ajay Kumar as the court commissioner in the case and the videography was scheduled for May 6 and 7.
In an order on April 26, the court of Ravi Kumar Diwakar asked the advocate commissioner to carry-out the work in the Shringar Gauri worship case after May 3.
A case was filed by Delhi-based Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas and Rekha Pathak on April 18 last year demanding permission for daily worship of Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman and Nandi located on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. The plea has also requested for an order restraining the opponents from causing any damage to the statues.
The court in its order had asked the advocate commissioner to carry out the survey of the mosque in the presence of both the parties and ensure that the whole process is video-graphed. The report is to be submitted in the court on May 10.
A civil suit was also filed in February last year by plaintiffs in a court in Varanasi “for restoration of Darshan, Pooja, Aarti, Bhog and performance of rituals at the principle seat of Asthan of Lord Adi Visheshwar and of Goddess Maa Shringar Gauri, the Ardhangni and devotee of Lord Adi Visheshwar, along with Lord Ganesh, Nandiji and other deities within the precincts of temple complex”.
In April last year, a fast-track court in Varanasi had directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex to find out whether a temple was demolished to build the mosque that stands there adjacent to the temple.
Later the Allahabad High Court had stayed the fast-track court order on September 9, 2021.
The Allahabad High Court decided on March 25 to hold regular hearing in the the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque title dispute case till the matter is concluded.
