Gyanvapi Dispute | Varanasi Court Defers Decision On Making ASI's Scientific Survey Report Public Till January 24

The Varanasi District Court will decide on January 24 as to whether the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) scientific survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque should be made public and a copy of the same be given to the parties involved in the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath Temple dispute.The Court adjourned the hearing on the applications filed before it seeking a copy of the survey report in view of an application moved by the ASI this week urging the Varanasi District Judge to delay the release of its Gyanvapi Survey Report by four weeks so that the agency gets breathing time to file the report in the 1991 suit pertaining the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute.The request was made by the ASI while contending that as per the High Court's December 18 order, the agency has to present the survey report in the 1991 suit (presently pending before the Court of Civil Judge, Senlor Division, Fast Track Court, Varanasi) as well and hence, before its submission, disclosing the report's content to the public would be inappropriate, as it may result in the spread of rumours and misrepresentation, potentially impacting the ASI's ongoing work.It may be noted that the ASI conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi as per 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.On August 4, the Supreme Court refused 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.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 had allowed the survey to take place.The Court had ordered thus while disposing of a petition filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi) challenging the Allahabad High Court order (of August 3) which permitted the ASI survey.On July 21, Varanasi District Judge directed the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a “scientific survey” of the Gyanvapi mosque premises except for the area that was sealed earlier (wuzukhana) 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.The ASI, on December 18, submitted before the Varanasi Court, its report on the scientific survey of Gyanvapi mosque premises.

Gyanvapi Dispute | Varanasi Court Defers Decision On Making ASI's Scientific Survey Report Public Till January 24

Sparsh Upadhyay

Tags