Archaeological Survey of India to conduct survey of Gyanvapi mosque

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been given permission by the Allahabad High Court to survey the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. In the Gyanvapi survey case, the Hindu side’s attorney, Vishnu Shankar Jain, stated, “Allahabad HC has stated that ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex should proceed.

Last month, a Varanasi court authorised ASI to survey the mosque, with the exception of the Wazukhana, which has a feature that some allege is a Shivling. The survey’s objective is to ascertain whether the Kashi Vishwanath temple was demolished in order to build the masjid. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee then appealed the Varanasi District Judge’s ruling on July 21. On Thursday, the Allahabad High Court rejected the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee’s appeal.

Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said I welcome this verdict and I am confident that the truth will come out after the ASI survey and the issue will be resolved. AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali responded to the verdict by saying, “We are hoping that justice will be served as this mosque is approximately 600 years old and Muslims have been performing namaz there for the last 600 years. We also support the Places of Worship Act’s application to all places of worship across the nation. The Muslim side will consider petitioning the SC to challenge this order.”

The survey had been put on hold by the Supreme Court till 5 p.m. on July 26 when the Allahabad High Court ordered the ASI to postpone beginning the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque while the hearing on the subject was still underway. The district court ruling ordering the ASI to undertake the contentious survey was being challenged in court. ASI assured the court that there will be no damage to the structure and no excavations will be done.