A Varanasi court on Wednesday ordered that the report of the Gyanvapi Mosque’s scientific survey, conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) be made public, with all relevant parties getting access to the same. The order was passed by the district judge AK Vishvesha while disposing of a bunch of applications lodged by concerned parties seeking a copy of the survey report.
Notably, the Archaeological Survey of India conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi according to the July 21 order of the Varanasi District Judge to determine if the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.
Earlier on August 4, 2023, the top court declined to stop the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) from surveying the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi, except the wuzukhana area where a shivling was claimed to have been found last year.
The Varanasi court had allowed the survey to take place after taking on record an undertaking made on behalf of the ASI that no excavation would be done at the site and no damage would be caused to the structure. The court thus ordered while disposing of a petition filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee challenging the Allahabad High Court order of August 3 which permitted the ASI survey.
On July 21, 2023 Varanasi District Judge directed the Director of Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises except for the area that was sealed earlier to find out if the same has been built over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. This order was upheld by the Allahabad HC on August 3, 2023.
Earlier, the ASI had sought the postponement of the release of its Gyanvapi Survey report to the public domain. The panel had then urged a Varanasi district judge to delay the disclosure, fearing that the report’s content to the public would be inappropriate and fuel rumours and misinformation.
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