A Varanasi court on Thursday ordered to continue the survey of Gyanvapi premises and rejected the petition seeking removal of the advocate commissioner. The court directed the advocate commissioner to furnish the survey report by May 17 and appointed two commissioners to accompany him during the survey.

Delivering the judgment on a petition seeking permission for the survey of underground sites of Shringar Gauri temple too besides the temple, Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar ordered that the survey and videography of temple and other idols on Gyanvapi premises would continue.

 The court rejected another petition praying for removal of the advocate commissioner and raising questions on his fairness. However, the court appointed two commissioners, Vishal Singh and Ajay Pratap Singh, to accompany the Advocate Commissioner during the survey.

In its order, the court made it clear that the survey work would be conducted jointly by Advocate Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra and Vishal Singh and in the absence of the former, the latter would conduct the survey and similarly, in the absence of the latter, the advocate commissioner would continue the process of commission.

In its order, the court also said the district administration would not try to delay the survey work and would help the advocate commissioner.

Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar had appointed Ajay Kumar Mishra as advocate commissioner to conduct survey and videography of Shringar Gauri Temple and other idols located in Gyanvapi premises on a petition filed by five Delhi-based women.

When the advocate commissioner reached the Gyanvapi to conduct a survey on May 6, the advocates of defendant Anjuman Intejamia Masjid Committee protested the survey work, raising questions over his fairness. The advocates appearing for the committee also submitted a petition in the court on May 7 demanding the removal of the advocate commissioner. On the same day, the advocates appearing for the plaintiff also filed a petition seeking permission for survey of underground sites of the temple too.

After hearing on both petitions, the court had reserved its judgement on Wednesday.

The plaintiff and their advocates expressed happiness over the judgement and said that it cleared the way for the survey and videography of Gyanvapi premises.