VARANASI: Senior advocate Abhay Nath Yadav, 65, who was leading the team of lawyers of Anjuman Intezamia Masajid — the Gyanvapi mosque management committee — in the Shringar Gauri case, died of cardiac arrest at his residence late on Sunday night.
The AIM is challenging the maintainability of the plea of five Hindu women seeking restoration of the right to worship idols of Shringar Gauri and other deities inside Gyanvapi mosque premises.
Yadav is survived by two daughters and a son.
According to his family members, Yadav was feeling uneasy since Sunday morning. But, whenever his family members asked him about it, he took it lightly and said that was having some gastric problem. However, till evening his condition deteriorated sharply after which his family members rushed him to a private hospital in Bhojubir area, where doctors declared him dead. The reason for the death was confirmed as cardiac arrest, they said.
As the news about his death spread, a large number of lawyers started reaching his residence. On Monday morning, the Central Bar Association and Banaras Bar Association held a joint condolence meeting at CBA hall and paid tributes to Yadav.
CBA president Mohan Yadav, BBA president Dhirendra Nath Sharma, Bar Council member Harishankar Singh recalled how Yadav was dedicated to his profession.
Yadav was the only Hindu on the panel of lawyers roped in by the AIM in the case. Yadav had argued in the court of district judge on four dates between May 24 and July 12. Following the counter-reply by the advocates of women plaintiffs, Yadav was preparing for further submissions before the court on the next date of hearing on August 4.
AIM joint secretary SM Yaseen said, “Untimely death of Yadav is shocking for us. We will hold a committee of office-bearers of AIM and all other members of the panel of advocates to discuss whether seeking services of any senior advocate as replacement of Yadav is needed for the ongoing case. We expect that decision will be taken before August 4 in this connection.”
