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EYE on INDIA APRIL 09, 2021 | The Indian Eye 12

Kashi vishwanath Temple

UP court allows ASI to survey

disputed premises

n Uttar Pradesh court on Thursday allowed the Archaeo-
logical Survey of India (ASI) to survey the disputed prem-
Aises in Varanasi that is claimed by both the Kashi Vishwa-
nath Temple and Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
The court directed the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government
to bear the cost of the survey. The directive was given by Varanasi
First Track Court judge Ashutosh Tiwari. They have also asked
the ASI to submit a report after the survey.
The order came on a petition filed by local lawyer Vijay Shan-
kar Rastogi, who had demanded that the land entailing the Gyan-
vapi Mosque be restored to Hindus.
Rastogi said, “The court also stipulated that at least two mem-
bers of the five-member team of eminent archaeologists should Shopkeepers and traders protest against the government’s deci-
be from the minority community.” sion of lockdown due to an increase in coronavirus cases in the
In his plea, he has contended that the Gyanwapi Mosque in
Varanasi is a part of Vishveshwar Temple. state, in Mumbai on Thursday (ANI)
The High Court stayed the proceedings in the lower court
which had continued for the past 21-22 years, Rastogi said. Deshmukh had filed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) before
After a directive of the Supreme Court, the proceedings had the apex court, challenging Bombay High Court’s April 5 order.
started from 2018, Rastogi further said. Deshmukh tendered his resignation to Maharashtra Chief
On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board’s Minister Uddhav Thackeray on April 5 after the Bombay High
Chairman Zufar Ahmad Faruqi said that the order of the Civil Court order. The court also directed the agency to register an
Judge, Varanasi ordering a survey by the ASI will be challenged FIR if any cognizable offence is found.
before the Allahabad High Court. In his letter to Thackeray, Singh had alleged that Deshmukh
“Our understanding is clear that this case is barred by the had indulged in “malpractices” and asked Waze to collect Rs 100
Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The Places crores every month.
of Worship Act was upheld by a five-judge Constitution Bench
of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya judgment. The status of wedding Business
Gyanvapi Masjid is, as such, beyond question,” it said.
Even otherwise, we can say as per legal advice that the or- Night curfew affects
der of survey is questionable because technical evidence can only
supplement certain foundational facts, he said in the statement.
The ASI did not find proof that the Babri Masjid was built ceremonies
upon demolition of a temple, he added. mid the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, the admin-

istration has imposed strict restrictions like night curfew
Param Bir singh Aand restrictions on attendees at weddings, but this has ad-

CBI records statement over versely affected the event industry which is still recovering from the
aftermath of lockdown.
The night curfew imposed in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, cou-
corruption allegations pled with the Delhi government’s guidelines is either affecting
the sales of wedding accessories or resulting in the cancellation of
he Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) on Thursday record- the booking of banquets, halls for wedding functions.
ed the statement of former Mumbai police commissioner “Speaking to ANI, Pramod Chaturvedi, general manager of a
TParam Bir Singh in the ongoing preliminary investigation hotel Clarks Avadh said, “It is not possible to attend guests with
over allegations of corruption and malpractices against former the night curfew restrictions, people will not come to attend. We
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. are receiving huge calls from our customers about the cancella-
CBI has also recorded the statements of suspended Assistant tion. We are trying to convince them that restrictions are only for
Police Inspector Sachin Waze, complainant Jaishri Patil and ACP a week. But in case these reactions will continue, there will not be
Sanjay Patil, in the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the CBI an option rather than cancellation.”
will record the statement of DCP Raju Bhujbal on Tuesday. According to the people involved in businesses linked to wed-
The Supreme Court, earlier in the day, dismissed the petitions dings, the night curfew imposed in the city has adversely affected
filed by the Maharashtra government and Deshmukh challenging them.
the Bombay High Court order directing a preliminary enquiry by “How can I finish my work at any function by 9 pm (when
the CBI into the allegations of corruption and misconduct lev- curfew comes into effect)? Customers are canceling orders,” a
elled against him by Param Bir Singh. horse-drawn carriages operator said on Thursday.

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