ASI survey: The survey of Gyanvapi mosque premises by an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team has begun on Monday (July 24), after a Varanasi court in Uttar Pradesh allowed the scientific survey of the campus, barring the disputed (Wazu Tank) area.
The ASI action began in the variegated area of the Gyanvapi campus early morning in which one advocate representing each side will participate. While speaking to reporters, Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi said, "We are sure that the whole premise is of temple only. The result of the survey will be favourable to us." Meanwhile, the security in the area has also been beefed up.
Notably, the Varanasi court on July 21 had allowed the ASI to conduct a “scientific survey” of Gyanvapi mosque premises, except for the disputed area. The court made the directions while hearing the Hindu side’s plea seeking a scientific survey to determine if the mosque was built at the site of a Hindu temple. The Muslim side opposed the plea, stating an ASI survey could damage the complex.
The court has asked the survey team to submit its report by August 4.
However, dissatisfied with the Varanasi court’s verdict, the Muslim side said that it would now approach the High Court.
Case background
In May this year, five women had filed a petition seeking permission to pray at the “Shringar Gauri Sthal” inside the shrine complex. A structure - which the Hindu side claimed was ‘Shivling’ while the Muslim side described as ‘fountain’ - was found on the mosque premises.
The ASI has not been permitted to do a survey of the ‘shivling’. The court will deliver its judgement on survey of ‘shivling’ on July 29.
The barricaded ‘wazukhana’ is a structure claimed by Hindu litigants where the ‘shivling’ exists.
A petition challenging the Allahabad High Court's order requiring the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a "scientific survey," including carbon dating, of a "Shivling" allegedly discovered at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey last year was filed by Hindu petitioners in the Gyanvapi case earlier on July 6.
In a letter to the Supreme Court Registrar, the petitioners claimed that the matter had been assigned to the High Court on May 19, 2023, but that it had postponed carrying out the rulings until July 6, 2023.
Earlier on May 12, the High Court set aside the Varanasi District judge's order which had rejected the application for a scientific survey and carbon dating of the "Shivling" on October 14, 2022. The High Court had directed the Varanasi District judge to proceed, in accordance with the law, on the application by the Hindu worshippers for conducting a scientific probe of the "Shivling".
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