Allahabad High Court Allows ASI to Survey Gyanvapi Mosque Complex in Varanasi – Historic Step
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been granted permission by the Allahabad High Court to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This decision marks a significant milestone in the ongoing Gyanvapi case, which centers around the mosque located next to the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Representing the Hindu side in the case, Advocate Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating, Allahabad High Court allowed the ASI to conduct the survey yesterday. ASI and the district administration have made all preparations. We are also going there. This survey is a step towards creating history.
The timeline for completing the survey remains uncertain, as lawyer Sudhir Tripathi, representing the Hindu side, mentioned that the ASI would determine its duration. Comparatively, the survey conducted on the Ram temple in Ayodhya took approximately seven to eight months to complete.
In anticipation of the survey, security around the Gyanvapi premises has been intensified. The ASI’s survey has become a subject of contention, with the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee filing a plea challenging the survey. Despite their efforts, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the committee’s plea, upholding the ASI’s authority to conduct the survey.
The survey was initially prompted by an application filed by four Hindu women on May 16, 2023, ultimately resulting in the order issued by the Varanasi district judge AK Vishvesha on July 21. However, the order excluded the Wuzu Khana, or ablution pond area, of the complex, as it had been sealed by the Supreme Court.
It is worth noting that an earlier request by the ASI to commence the Gyanvapi mosque survey was temporarily halted by the Allahabad High Court while the case was under review. The Supreme Court subsequently extended the hold until July 26 to allow for a detailed scientific survey by the ASI, determining whether the mosque’s construction was atop a pre-existing temple.
