Based on the claim of a Hindu lawyer that a ‘shivling’ is found in the pond inside Gyanvapi mosque, a Varanasi court has ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to seal the place prohibiting the entry of any person into the sealed room.
An advocate from the Hindu side Madan Mohan Yadav, after the videography survey was completed on Monday, claimed that the ‘shivling’ measuring 12 feet long and eight inches in diameter is Nandi faced.
However, the claim of the Hindu lawyer has been countered by the lawyers of the Muslim side, who were part of the said survey, saying that it was a fountain not ‘shivling’ which was found in the pond. The order of the Varanasi court to seal the room also has been criticised by the Muslim side terming it as biased and taken without hearing both the sides.
Advocate Mohammed Tauheed Khan, representing the Anjuman intizamia Masajid, Banaras in the case, refuted the claim of Hindu side and said it is a fountain and not ‘shivling.’
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Tauheed Khan also termed the order of the court as biased and unfortunate passed in a hurry without listening both the parties.
Another Muslim lawyer Mirazuddin, called the claim of ‘shivling’ being found as incorrect.
Three court-appointed advocate commissioners, five lawyers each from the two sides and an assistant besides a videography team carried out the survey which was completed around noon on Monday.
The advocate commissioners will submit their report to the court on Tuesday.
In its order, the court said that the DM, police commissioner and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandant Varanasi will be responsible for the security of the sealed area.
The survey was conducted in accordance with the Varanasi Civil Court’s order to continue the survey despite objections from the mosque authorities.
The management committee of the mosque claim the court did not pass any orders allowing videography inside the mosque but only till the courtyard outside the barricading.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has agreed hear a plea against the Allahabad High Court order which dismissed a petition challenging a Varanasi court’s order to appoint an advocate as a court commissioner to inspect the Gyanvapi mosque complex on Tuesday.
A bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and P.S. Narasimha will hear the plea filed by Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Varanasi.