Varanasi – The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey to ascertain if the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, which is next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, was built upon a temple has been halted by the Supreme Court. The ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex has been halted by the top court until 5 p.m. on July 26.
The Allahabad High Court’s order won’t be put into effect until July 26, according to the supreme court. The mosque committee was instructed by the SC to go to the Allahabad High Court in the meantime.
Senior attorney Huzefa Ahmadi appeared in court on behalf of the mosque committee, and a bench presided over by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took notice of his arguments. The bench postponed the implementation of the ruling till Wednesday evening and instructed the committee to file an appeal in the interim.
SC had earlier instructed ASI to postpone any digging until today at 11:15 AM. SG Tushar Mehta has been requested to return at 11:15 to discuss the surveying techniques used by ASI. According to PTI, the top court instructed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was defending the Uttar Pradesh government, to advise the ASI team that there should be no excavation or “invasive work” at the site. “Not a brick has been removed, nor is it planned to be removed,” SG responded. Currently, measurements, photography, and radar are being conducted; these activities won’t impact the structure.
The ASI team arrived to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi this morning in order to carry out a scientific examination of the mosque complex, which is close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
On Friday, Varanasi Court issued orders for an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, except the sealed “Wazukhana” portion.
