Ahead of the Varanasi district judge’s decision on opening the sealed envelopes containing the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) report on the Gyanvapi mosque survey, the ASI has filed a fresh application urging the court to postpone the disclosure of the report for four weeks. The court, in response to the plea, has reserved its order on the matter and will decide on Thursday whether to provide the report to the parties involved in the original Shirngar Gauri suit.
Four women plaintiffs, represented by their advocate, have requested that the survey report be opened and a copy be given to them. ASI stated in its application that in compliance with the Allahabad High Court’s order in a different but related case, the same survey report must be presented before the civil judge. The government counsel, Amit Srivastava, stated that ASI has provided reasons for requesting the deferment of the proceeding in order to avoid potential rumors and misrepresentations in the public domain.
Srivastava emphasized that ASI is diligently working on submitting the copy of the survey report in compliance with the high court’s order and, for a smoother process, the report before the current court should remain sealed until then. He also highlighted the need for additional survey work in areas that were overlooked in the initial ASI survey.
The property on which the Gyanvapi mosque exists comprises three plots, and so far, ASI has covered areas in one plot. The Hindu side is demanding a survey on the remaining plots, as well as the wuzukhana and the area beneath the central dome of the mosque.
The decision on whether to make the Gyanvapi report public is eagerly awaited, as it carries significant implications for all parties involved. The ASI’s plea for a four-week postponement is aimed at ensuring compliance with the high court’s order and preventing any potential misinformation that may arise from prematurely disclosing the report.
The court’s reserved order on Thursday will determine if the report will be made available to the original plaintiffs in the Shirngar Gauri suit. Until then, the sealed report will remain undisclosed. The outcome of this decision will shape the future course of action in this long-standing legal dispute surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque.
