VARANASI, Nov. 21 -- The Varanasi district court on Thursday fixed December 3 as the next date of hearing on a plea seeking replacement of the cloth tied over the sealed lock of the wazukhana (ablution area) inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex here.

Advocate Akhlaque Ahmad, counsel for the Anzuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (AIMC) that looks after the management of the Gyanvapi mosque, said the court fixed December 3 as the next date of hearing.

The plea for replacement of the cloth was filed on August 8 by advocate Rajesh Mishra, UP government's special counsel for the Shringar Gauri-Gyanvapi case, on behalf of the Varanasi administration. In response, the AIMC raised objections the same month.

During hearings on previous dates in the...