By Pawan Dixit
LUCKNOW A civil court in Sambhal on Tuesday directed the advocate commissioner to conduct a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid located in the district in Uttar Pradesh on an application filed by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and six others— opening the latest in a litany of controversies surrounding Muslim places of worship that some right-wing activists say were built after demolishing temples during the Mughal era.
The civil judge (senior division) appointed lawyer Ramesh Raghav as advocate commissioner, and an “initial survey” was carried out in the evening in the presence of Sambhal district magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and district police chief Krishan Kumar, according to officials.
“The court accepted the application of the petitioner for the survey. Thereafter, as per the legal procedure, advocate commissioner Ramesh Raghav, along with senior district officials, reached the spot and carried out the survey,” said advocate Prince Sharma, district government counsel (civil), Sambhal.
“Photography and videography was carried out during the survey. The advocate commissioner has to submit the report before the next hearing of the case on November 29,” Sharma added.
It was on Jain’s petition that a Varanasi court had on April 8, 2022 ordered a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex — it abuts the Kashi Vishwanath Temple — by the advocate commissioner.
According to the ASI’s survey report, terracotta objects, including figurines of deities and fragmentary figures of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha, were found from debris in the western wall area of the premises.
This story was originally published in hindustantimes.com. Read the full story here.
