New Delhi: A Varanasi court on Tuesday removed Ajay Kumar Mishra as the court commissioner appointed for the survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex. The remaining two commissioners have been given two days to file the survey report. The court ordered to remove Ajay Mishra for leaking survey information to the media, a report in Live Law said.
The court order comes after the commission tasked with the videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex sought additional time to submit its report. The court had earlier asked the commission to submit the report by Tuesday.
Assistant Advocate Commissioner Ajay Pratap Singh said Mishra was removed on the grounds of non-cooperation. "Around 50 per cent of the report is ready. This is because we did not get time (to compile report). Court has granted two days time to submit the report. He (Advocate-Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra) was not cooperating," Singh told PTI.
Last week, the court had turned down a plea by the mosque committee to replace Ajay Kumar Mishra as the advocate commissioner. However, Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar appointed two more advocates to help the court commissioner with the survey.
The videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex was completed on Monday. The survey was carried out by three court-appointed advocate commissioners, five lawyers each from the two sides besides a videography team.
Counsels representing the Hindu petitioners claimed that a Shivling was found close to the 'wazookhana' -- a small reservoir used by Muslim devotees to perform rituals before offering the namaz.
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A Varanasi court ordered the sealing of the pond in the Gyanvapi Masjid complex where the alleged shivling was found. Justice Ravi Kumar Diwakar directed the district magistrate, police commissioner and CRPF commandant in Varanasi to ensure the security of the sealed area.