A Varanasi court on Tuesday granted two more days to the Commission that carried out a videography survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex to submit its report. The court also removed advocate commissioner Ajay Mishra from his post for allegedly leaking information about the case to media. Special Court Commissioner Vishal Singh will now submit the survey report to the court.
The Commission had been directed to submit the report on Tuesday. However, it sought additional time saying the report is yet to be compiled. Assistant Advocate Commissioner Ajay Pratap Singh said around 50 per cent of the report is ready.
"Open as well as closed 'taikhanas' (underground rooms) were surveyed, and locks of 'taikhanas', whose keys were not found, were broken by the district administration. They were videographed and photographed," he said.
The court had on Monday ordered 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.
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.
