Gyanvapi | Varanasi Court Directs ASI To Submit Its Mosque Survey Report By November 28

Earlier, the Court had asked it to submit its survey report by November 17. Now, the ASI has been granted time till November 28 to file its report.

The order was passed by District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesha on an application moved by the ASI which stated that it has prepared a detailed survey report covering every aspect of the survey and its report is near completion, and only preparation of the report conducted by the GPR is under process and hence, it required a further 15-day time to submit its report.

Having perused the application as well as finding justification in the reasons given by the ASI seeking more time to complete the survey, the Court, while allowing the prayer, remarked thus:

“I am of the view that taking into consideration the exercise made by the ASI and the nature of the job, it will be proper in the interest of justice to provide an additional 10 day for submission of the survey report by ASI..”

It may be noted that the ASI is presently conducting a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi as per the July 21 order of the Varanasi District Judge to determine if the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. The ASI has already surveyed the premises for around 30 days now.

On August 4, the Supreme Court refused to stop the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from surveying the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi, except the 'wuzukhana' area where a 'shivling' was claimed to have been found last year.

Taking on record an undertaking made on behalf of the ASI that no excavation would be done at the site and no damage will be caused to the structure, the Court allowed the survey to take place.

The Court ordered thus while disposing of a petition filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi) challenging Allahabad High Court order (of August 3) which permitted the ASI survey.

On July 21, Varanasi District Judge directed the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a “scientific survey” of the Gyanvapi mosque premises except for the area that was sealed earlier (wuzukhana) to find out if the same has been built over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. This order was upheld by the Allahabad HC on August 3.