Court Commissioner Seeks More Time to Submit Gyanvapi Mosque Survey Report

Varanasi: The commission tasked with the videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex here by a local Varanasi court has sought two more days from a local court to submit its report. The court had earlier asked the commission to submit the report by Tuesday. Assistant Advocate Commissioner, Ajay Pratap Singh, said that as per the orders of the court, the videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex took place from May 14 to May 16.

“However, we are not submitting the report in the court today (Tuesday) since it is not prepared. We will seek additional time from the court, and whatever time the court gives, we will submit the report then,” Singh said. 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.

A local court on Monday had ordered the sealing of a pond in the Gyanvapi Masjid complex after lawyers representing the Hindu petitioners said a Shivling was found there during the court-mandated videography survey. However, a mosque management committee member disputed the claim, saying the object was part of the water fountain mechanism at the wazookhana reservoir where devotees carry out ablutions before offering namaz.