Media coverage prohibited for Gyanvapi survey by Varanasi Court
The directive follows a request from the Gyanvapi management committee to prohibit media coverage and commentary by the survey team.
District Judge A K Vishvesh issued the order in response to a petition by the Gyanvapi management committee, which sought a prohibition on media coverage of the survey. The survey is currently underway to ascertain whether the 17th-century mosque was built atop a temple.
During the hearing, Madan Mohan Yadav, the lawyer representing the Hindu side, informed PTI that the court had directed the media not to cover the event directly from the location. Additionally, the court instructed the survey team members to refrain from making comments in the media. Furthermore, the court advised against sharing any reports on social media that could potentially disrupt peace regarding the matter.
In the month of July, a Varanasi court issued a directive for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out a scientific examination of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in the area. This order was subsequently confirmed by the Allahabad High Court.
Following court directives, the survey of the mosque complex commenced on August 4.
Syed Mohammad Yasin, the joint secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, which oversees the management of the mosque, stated that the ASI survey is being conducted in accordance with court orders.
As of now, the survey team and its officials have not issued any statements. However, Syed Mohammad Yasin asserted that there is a continuous circulation of misleading information in newspapers, news channels, and on social media platforms.
Yasin expressed concern that such misinformation could adversely impact people’s perceptions, emphasizing the need to cease the publication of such news items.
In the midst of the ongoing survey within the mosque complex, Yasin conveyed that unfounded claims were being disseminated. He warned that unless these false narratives were halted, the Muslim side might consider boycotting the survey.
Yasin further contended that during Saturday’s survey, a portion of the media propagated rumors suggesting the discovery of idols, tridents, and urns in the mosque’s basement. This, he asserted, deeply offended the sentiments of the Muslim community.
