Gyanvapi Mosque Case: ASI Submits Sealed Survey Report In Varanasi Court, Next Hearing On Dec 21

The Archaeological Survey of India submitted its survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque complex on Monday in Varanasi district court.

ASI submits survey report of Gyanvapi mosque premises.

Source : PTI

The Archaeological Survey of India on Monday submitted its survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in the Varanasi’s district court which has scheduled the next hearing on December 21, reported news agency PTI. 

Representing the Hindu faction, Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav said, “The report in sealed cover was placed before the court by the ASI's standing counsel Amit Srivastava." Four senior officials of the ASI were also present in the court, the report added. 

"The court has fixed December 21 to open the sealed report and submit its copies to the advocates of either side," Yadav said.

A scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex was conducted by the ASI, which is located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, to ascertain whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

The survey was conducted on the order of a Varanasi court and began on August 4 leaving the Wuzukhana area of the mosque, which was sealed by the orders of the Supreme Court.

ASI submitted its report on Monday after it sought three more weeks on November 28. Earlier, the agency had asked for an extension of 15 days on Nov 18 and the court had allowed it 10 days, as per an IANS report. 

The order by Varanasi court to carry out a survey came on the petition filed by four women who sought permission to pray at the Shringar Gauri Shrine which is behind the western wall of the temple. 

ASI conducted the survey for over four-and-a-half hours on July 24 after which the Supreme Court paused the exercise on the same day till 5 pm. The apex court allowed the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (AIMC) to approach the Allahabad High Court. 

AIMC approached the high court on July 25 which extended the stay on the survey, though in its August 3 ruling, it gave the nod for the survey to be conducted as planned. 

The high court was challenged by the mosque committee in the Supreme Court but the apex court refused to stay the survey on August 4.