Petitioners are seeking year-long access to pray at a Hindu shrine behind the Gyanvapi Mosque complex
The survey inside the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple will continue and the report needs to be submitted by May 17, the court hearing the matter said today afternoon. The court in Varanasi also added two advocates to the survey commission.
The court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar, which had also heard the matter relating to the opening of the two basements located inside the mosque complex for videography, delivered the verdict after hearing the arguments of both the sides.
The Gyanvapi mosque management committee had filed an application seeking a replacement of court official Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was assigned to do the survey, claiming he was not impartial.
Here are the Highlights on court decision on Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque:
The court today said it has decided not to replace the commissioner overseeing the survey. Abhay Nath Yadav, the lawyer for the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, had alleged the court-appointed commissioner is biased.
"Two more lawyers have been appointed as commissioners to accompany Court commissioner Ajay Mishra for the survey. Commission to submit its report by May 17 before the court: Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, representing Hindu petitioners in court.
The court has directed that the survey be committed inside the mosque also," Vishnu Jain, petitioner, told NDTV.
Important points from court order: 
- The commission will carry the survey from 8 am till 12 pm till the survey is not created.
- The district administration should file an FIR if someone obstructs the survey committee.
- The survey report needs to be submitted by May 17.
The Varanasi court also said it has decided not replace the commissioner overseeing the survey.
Gyanvapi Mosque Survey To Continue, Report By May 17, Says Court
The survey inside the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple will continue and the report will be submitted by May 17, the court hearing the matter said today afternoon. The court in Varanasi also added two advocates to the survey commission.
Varanasi court to deliver order shortlyA court in Varanasi will deliver its verdict today in the case related to the inspection of the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The women had moved the court with their plea on April 18, 2021, and also sought a court's order to stop the opponents from causing any damage to the idols.
The inspection started last Friday but has not been fully completed because of a dispute over videography inside the mosque. The caretaker committee of the Gyanvapi mosque and its lawyers have said they are opposed to any videography inside the mosque. But the lawyers for the petitioners have claimed they had the court's go-ahead.
The court will also decide today whether to replace the commissioner overseeing the survey and whether videography will be permitted inside the mosque.
Gyanvapi Mosque complex: What is the issue?
The court had ordered an inspection in April this year on petitions by five Hindu women asking for year-long access to pray at a Hindu shrine behind the western wall of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi. The site is currently opened for prayers once a year . The women also want permission to pray to other "visible and invisible deities within the old temple complex". The local court had earlier directed the authorities to submit a report by May 10.
A court in Varanasi will deliver its verdict today in the case related to the inspection of the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple. The court is likely to deliver verdict today afternoon.