On Thursday, a court in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is set to issue an order concerning the Gyanvapi Mosque. Last Monday, a plea was filed demanding the dismissal of Ajay Kumar Mishra, the court-appointed lawyer commissioner in charge of conducting a study of the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal within the mosque complex. The order is noteworthy in light of disputes over whether a poll can be done within the mosque. Inside the compound, there have been some complaints to videography.
The advocate commissioner was instructed to videotape the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal by the court of civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar and provide a thorough report on May 10.
The survey was done in response to a request by women petitioners Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, and others for permission to undertake daily worship of deities Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, and Nandi, whose idols are alleged to be atop the Gyanvapi mosque’s outer wall.
The poll, however, could not be finished due to opposition, and the official requested extra time.
Apart from the official request, the court is also hearing a case concerning the filming of the two basements located inside the Gyanvapi premises’ barricading.
“Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal and Gyanvapi mosque are separate,” Abhay Nath Yadav, who represents the Gyanvapi mosque management committee (Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid Committee) in court, contended.
“The court has deferred its decision until 12 a.m. tomorrow” (Thursday). On Wednesday, lawyer Shivam Gaur, representing the Hindu side, informed reporters that “the court would give a judgement on whether the commissioner will be removed or not” tomorrow.
