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Varanasi Court Grants Extension Of Another Week To ASI To Submit Gyanvapi Mosque Scientific Survey Report
Sparsh Upadhyay
11 Dec 2023 4:01 PM IST
The Varanasi district court on Monday granted an additional 1 week time to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to submit its report pertaining to the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex. Earlier, the Court had asked the ASI to submit its survey report by November 11. Now, the ASI has been granted additional time of 1 week and posted the matter for the perusal of the report...
The Varanasi district court on Monday granted an additional 1 week time to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to submit its report pertaining to the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
Earlier, the Court had asked the ASI to submit its survey report by November 11. Now, the ASI has been granted additional time of 1 week and posted the matter for the perusal of the report on December 18.
The order was passed earlier today by District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesha on an application moved by the ASI which stated that their Superintending Archaeologist Avinash Mohanti was unwell and hence, he was unable to file the report and hence, ASI be granted a week to file the report.
It may further be noted that the ASI has conducted 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.
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 had allowed the survey to take place.
The Court had ordered thus while disposing of a petition filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi) challenging the 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.
