Summary:
Varanasi, May 15 (PTI) A court-mandated videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex here was carried out peacefully for the second consecutive day on Sunday, with 65 per cent of the exercise completed.
The survey, which was stalled last week amid objections by the mosque committee, which claimed that the advocate commissioner appointed by the court for the survey did not have the mandate to film inside the premises, will continue on Monday.
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.
Amid tight security, the survey was carried out from 8 am to 12 noon.
"About 65 per cent of the survey work has been completed today.
The survey will continue on Monday as well.
This is completely an archaeological survey work, and since the advocates were not familiar with the survey work, the work took some time (today)," Madan Mohan Yadav, the advocate of the Hindu side in the case said.
Assistant advocate commissioner Vishal Singh said the survey work was held peacefully and concluded for the day.
"There were no obstructions in the survey work.
The survey report is confidential, and it cannot be made public," he said.
Varanasi police commissioner A Satish Ganesh told PTI that "Deployment (of security forces) has been made on the same scale as it was made on Saturday.
Also attention has been paid to ensure that devotees visiting nearby areas do not face any problems (due to the survey).
Our responsibility is that an ideal atmosphere is established, so that the court procedure can proceed without any hindrance." Ahead of the commencement of the survey, Singh had told reporters that, "Efforts will be made so that the entire survey is completed today, and on May 17, the report can be presented before the court".
District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma had said on Saturday that almost 50 per cent of the survey work has been done.