Varanasi, May 19: A court here on Thursday fixed May 23 as the next date of hearing in the Gyanvapi mosque complex videography case.
In the wake of a directive from the Supreme Court, the Civil Judge (Senior Division) deferred the hearing. The fresh date was fixed after hearing the plaintiff and the respondents. It may be noted that the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Varanasi Civil Court (lower court) to desist from hearing, till Friday, the case after a lawyer for the Hindu party sought an adjournment in the apex court for a day. In the meantime, the videography report was submitted in the court.
While former Advocate Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra’s initial survey of May 6-7 was presented in the court, Special Advocate General Vishal Singh submitted the report of videography done between May 14 to 16. Vishal Singh submitted a 12 page survey report along with chips of videography survey, maps and other documents in a sealed box. Singh said that it is a confidential report in which objections of the respondents have been recorded.
As the report is confidential, he refused to give details. Prior to this, former Advocate General Ajay Mishra had submitted his report on Wednesday. The Muslim side raised objections after excerpts of the report submitted by Mishra got leaked.
The Masjid Management Committee and its counsel said Mishra has been removed from the post of Advocate Commissioner and hence his report is meaningless. On May 23 hearing will be held on two separate applications one filed by the plaintiff and another moved by the administration.
The Hindu side has requested the wall near wazookhana and permission to enter the basement to get information regarding Shivling or the water fountain. The District Government Counsel has pointed out towards scarcity of water after the wazookhana was sealed. He has pleaded to shift the waterline from the wazookhana so that Namazis could do wazoo. Besides, he pointed out that there were fishes in the pond and there is threat to their lives after the wazukhana has been sealed.
