[BREAKING] Gyanvapi Survey: Read details of court commissioner's survey report

Bar & Bench has accessed the survey report on Gyanvapi mosque submitted by the advocate commissioner before a Varanasi civil court. .The report was submitted pursuant to the civil court's direction to hold videography and survey of the mosque to which Hindus have laid claim to worship on the ground that it houses Hindu deities. .Findings .The following are the main findings enumerated in the survey report:- During the commission proceedings on May 16, the plaintiff drew the attention of the commission to a pool with the plaintiffs' counsel claiming that there is a Shivling in the middle of the pool. - The commission with the help of municipal corporation reduced the water level in the pool revealing a black circular stone-shaped figure 2.5 feet in height. - On its top, was a circular white stone with a round hole in the middle which was little less than half an inch.- When the circular shape was measured, the diameter of the base was found to be about 4 feet.- The plaintiff advocates started calling this circular black stone as Shivling while the counsel for the respondent said that it is a Fawarra (fountain).- After removing the water from the inside the circular structure, an oval shaped structure was found at the bottom, with a slightly circular cutting-shaped design on a separate stone at the upper end. Its videography was done. - During the proceedings, it was pointed out by the counsel for the plaintiffs that behind the place of Wazu area in the eastern direction, there is a place to go down. Its measurement was done, and there were four steps down and a 4 feet 2 inch wide lane ran in the north direction.- On the east side of the upper hall of the mosque, three toilets are located in the east, followed by three toilets in the south, an enlarged bathroom and toilets are located on three sides,and about 4.5 away, there is a well in which water is present, whose videography has been done.- In the end, the advocates for the plaintiffs demanded videography of the shape on the ground floor below the circular Shivling-shaped figure located in the middle of the pond on the first floor, stating the existence of the figure.- This was strongly opposed by Respondent no. 4.- On the basis of previous inspection and videography by the court commissioners, it was concluded that it is not possible to reach the ground under this circular shape since the part of the land below it is covered by the walls of the basement of the north and south and the wall of the bottom of the pond in the east.- Therefore, due to the obstruction of the walls at this site, it was not possible to complete the commissioning proceedings at present..Background.The Varanasi court had earlier directed the inspection of the site, but the same had been challenged before the Allahabad High Court. The High Court had dismissed the plea on April 21.Appeal against the same is pending before the Supreme Court. .The suit before the civil court was filed by one Rakhi Singh and others who sought a declaration that their right to profess their religion as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution is breached.It was claimed that there are deities such as Maa Gauri, Lord Ganesh and Hanuman etc at the site and that Hindus should be allowed to enter the site and offer their prayers and perform pooja and offer bhog to their deities.The civil judge after hearing the contentions had passed an order on August 18, 2021 appointing an advocate commissioner. The judge had also ordered the commissioner to visit the site and inspect and collect evidence as to whether the deities exist at the site. The commissioner was further given liberty to seek police force assistance in case of any disturbance or resistance to collection of evidence by virtue of videography.