The Varanasi district court on Monday (December 11) granted one more week to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to submit a scientific survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. District Judge AK Vishvesh gave the additional week-time to conclude the survey and submit the report. This comes after ASI asked for one week's time to file the survey report. Advocate representing the ASI submitted an application in the court and sought time.
The court fixed December 18 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
ASI was asked to submit report by Nov 28
While hearing the matter earlier last month, District Judge AK Vishvesh asked the ASI to submit its report by November 28. The ASI carried out a thorough survey of the Gyanvapi premises, which is close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, in order to ascertain whether the mosque built in the 17th century was built on top of an earlier Hindu temple.
Earlier on November 2, the ASI had told the court it had "completed" the survey but may take some more time to compile the report, along with the details of the equipment used in the survey work. The court then granted additional time till November 17 for submitting the document.
Allahabad HC gave nod for survey
On October 5, the court had granted four more weeks to the ASI and said the duration of the survey would not be extended beyond this. The survey had begun after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court's order and ruled that the step was "necessary in the interest of justice" and would benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides to the dispute.
During an earlier hearing, the mosque management committee had objected to the survey, alleging that the ASI was digging the basement as well as other places of the mosque complex without permission and accumulating debris on the western wall, posing a risk that the structure might collapse. The committee claimed that the ASI team was not authorised to survey the premises by removing debris or garbage.
The Gyanvapi committee had also moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order. On August 4, the apex court had refused to stay the high court's order on the ASI survey.
(With PTI inputs)
