Gyanvapi mosque verdict: Survey to continue, submit report by May 17, says UP court
India Today
The Gyanvapi mosque survey will continue and the report needs to be submitted by May 17. The court pronounced the verdict on Thursday afternoon.
A court in Varanasi on Thursday pronounced the verdict that the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque will continue and a report must be submitted by May 17.
While hearing the petition on whether a survey could be conducted inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, the court ruled that the entire area would be surveyed and videographed, including the basement. The court also appointed a second court commissioner, Vishal Kumar Singh, along with Ajay Mishra.
The local court had earlier directed the authorities to submit a report by May 10.
One of the petitioners spoke to India Today TV. She said, "We have been on a fast since morning for this hearing. Now we can break. We are very happy."
Last Friday, a court-appointed committee was blocked from carrying out survey and videography of the mosque complex. The mosque administration and a group of Muslim men barred the team from entering and staged a protest.
Earlier, the Varanasi court had ordered the videographic survey on a plea by five Delhi-based women seeking permission to perform daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols are located on the outer wall of Gyanvapi Masjid.The site is currently opened for prayers once a year.
They had moved the court with their plea on April 18, 2021, and had also sought the court's order to stop the opponents from causing any damage to the idols.
