In accordance with the district judge court's order dated January 17, District Magistrate S. Rajalingam has successfully taken custody of the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque, fulfilling his role as the appointed receiver.
Representing the district magistrate, ADM (protocol) Prakash Chand convened a meeting at the Gyanvapi mosque with the plaintiff and head priest of Acharya Ved Vyas Peeth temple, Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas, along with his advocates and representatives of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid (AIM). Sunil Verma, the Chief Executive Officer of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, was also present during the proceedings.
Following the meeting, the official entered the mosque premises and conducted essential formalities, which included measuring the southern cellar and displaying a notice board confirming its custody by the receiver. This process was completed ahead of the scheduled hearing on Vyas's suit.
On January 17, district Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha had issued an order appointing the DM of Varanasi as the receiver of the southern cellar of the mosque. The court has set January 29 as the next date for the hearing in this case, according to Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, the advocate for Vyas.
Vyas filed a suit on September 25, 2023, seeking permission for the worship of Shringar Gauri and other deities, visible and invisible, in the cellar of Gyanvapi mosque. The suit also requested the appointment of the DM or any other suitable person as the receiver of the southern cellar. AIM was made a party in the suit.
Immediately after filing the suit on September 25, Vyas's advocates submitted an application to transfer the case to the court of the district judge, citing that it would be in the interest of justice. The district judge granted the transfer on October 19, 2023.
(With Agency Inputs)
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