Our claim strengthened by survey: Hindu plaintiffs

Varanasi: The official survey team led by courtappointed advocate commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra continued its videographic survey of Gyanvapi complex premises for the second day on Sunday.

Mishra said that major parts of the premises have been covered and the survey will complete its proceedings on Monday. Though details of the survey were not shared with the media, advocate Harishankar Jain, representing the Hindu plaintiffs, said their claim has been strengthened by the survey. The survey team took an hour extra than the scheduled time of 8am to 12 pm, which created some speculations but Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said the proceedings were completed in peaceful manner within the scheduled time. He said the survey report will be submitted to court on Tuesday.

A court-mandated videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex here was carried out peacefully for the second consecutive day on Sunday, with the major part of the exercise said to have been completed.

The survey, which was stalled last week amid objections by the mosque management committee, which claimed that the advocate commissioner appointed by the court for the survey did not have the mandate to film inside the premises, will continue on Monday.

The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the local court is hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls. The survey was carried out from 8 am to 12 noon amid tight security.

Elaborating on the survey and day’s development, Varanasi’s District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “In the presence of three court commissioners along with all the parties, the court commission started its work at 8 am, and it continued till noon. All the parties followed the court orders. The court commission, after completing Sunday’s work, decided that work will continue on Monday as well.” The DM added that Monday’s work will begin at 8 am and all the parties have been directed to remain present.

Sharma said as per the directions of the court commission, adequate facilities including resources to provide light, videographers and photographers of the Information Department, draftsman, revenue staff of the tehsil and labour were provided.

He said, “Tight security arrangements were made. The devotees at Kashi Vishwanath were given entry through Dhoondi Raj Ganesh and Ganga Nadi ‘dwaar’, while gate 4 was closed for the common people for four hours.”