Gyanvapi | Application In Varanasi Court To Preserve Artefacts, Other Materials Found By ASI During Survey Of Mosque Complex

A fresh application has been moved before the Varanasi Court to preserve artefacts and other materials found by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during its ongoing survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque premises.The application under Order 7 Rule 39 CPC has been moved by 4 women plaintiffs in the Shringar Gauri Worshipping Suit of 2022 (Suit No. 18) through advocates Hari Shankar Jain, Vishnu Shankar Jain, Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi and Sudhir Tripathi.Stating that whatever articles are found by the ASI, would be case property and maybe a piece of evidence in the suit, the plaintiffs have prayed that the District Magistrate be directed to preserve all such articles and produce the same in Court whenever required.A further prayer has been made to direct the District Magistrate to prepare an inventory of all such articles and file the same before the Court.Referring to the May 2022 report submitted by the Advocate Commissioner in the case, the plaintiffs have said that there exists a number of artefacts, idols and other articles of Hindu worship within the premises and during its survey, the ASI will get a number of ancient articles of Hindu worship to which sentiments of Hindus i.e. the worshippers of Lord Shiva are deeply attached."...it is necessary that all the artefacts and articles whichever is found by ASI relating to Hindu faith and worship or any articles which is important from historical or Archaeological point of view be preserved in a scientific manner so that same may not deteriorate," the application avers.It may be noted that the ASI is presently conducting 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. Today is the 23rd day of the survey.On August 4, the Supreme Court refused to stop the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from carrying out a survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi, except the 'wuzukhana' area where a 'shiva linga' 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 allowed the survey to take place.The Court 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.On August 9, Varanasi District Judge prohibited the electronic and print media from publishing any 'unofficial news' about the ongoing ASI survey of Gyanvapi Mosque premises. The Court had further directed both parties to the Shringar Gauri Worshipping suit of 2022 and the ASI Officials to abstain from giving any statements regarding the survey to the media.

Gyanvapi | Application In Varanasi Court To Preserve Artefacts, Other Materials Found By ASI During Survey Of Mosque Complex

Sparsh Upadhyay

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