A videographic survey was conducted on Day 1 of the trial at the Gyanvapi Masjid complex in Varanasi by plaintiffs, defendants, attorneys, and security management personnel
Earlier on Sunday, Videography surveyors concluded the second day of work at Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.
A police cordon was placed near the complex at 8 am, and all the shops within 500 meters of the complex were closed. Witnesses were prohibited from entering the complex area.
All routes have been opened in order to avoid any difficulties for the visitors and police personnel have been deployed accordingly. Darshan has been arranged for all. As of now, RS Gautam, Varanasi DCP, has access to the Gyanvapi Masjid through one gate and devotees are accessing it through the other gates.
All government officials involved in the survey, such as lawyers from both sides, police officers, and district magistrates, reached the site this morning.
According to the order of the Varanasi Civil Court, this survey was conducted despite objections from the mosque authorities.
On April 21 the Allahabad High Court dismissed an appeal challenging the hiring of a court commissioner to survey and videotape the site.
The apex court challenged the High Court’s April 21 order.
A petition had been filed with the court by five women seeking permission for daily worship at the Shringar Gauri temple, alleged to be situated within the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque grounds.
In response to the petition of the aforementioned, the civil court ordered the survey and videography of the premises.
Vijay Shankar Rastogi also filed a lawsuit arguing that the whole temple property is owned by Kashi Vishwanath and that the Gyanvapi Mosque is only a part of it. He has been in the court since 1991.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb demolished the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, as Rastogi had claimed.