ASI survey in Gyanvapi Mosque is on after SC refuses to stay…

Supreme Court refuses to stay ASI survey of Gyanvapi Mosque complex.

The Survey is on full swing  as Varanasi court  granted the ASI an additional month to complete the survey within Sept 4 and Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee’s advocates are also participating in the Survey who boycotted it earlier.  

Sarita Singh |HENB | Varanasi | Aug 5, 2023:: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to put a stay on the survey of Gyanvapi Mosque by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

“Only non-invasive methods are to be used in survey. No excavation or destruction of any part of the structure”, the top court bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices Manoj Misra and JB Pardiwala said.

The top court bench also said it cannot find fault with the orders passed by the Varanasi district court passed on July 21.

The apex court bench also turned down the Gyanvapi mosque management committee’s plea to keep the survey report confidential until the court decides the maintainability of the suit by the Hindu plaintiffs.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, the advocate for the Hindu side told the press about the non-invasive and non-destructive nature of ASI survey in this row.

The Supreme Court also took note of the submissions by the ASI that neither any excavation nor any destruction to site will be caused during survey. It took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ASI and the Uttar Pradesh government, that no excavation will be carried out during the survey nor any destruction caused to the structure.Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque management committee, contended before the bench that the exercise by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is “digging into history”, violating the Places of Worship Act and impinging upon fraternity and secularism.

“You can’t oppose every interlocutory order on same ground and your objections will be decided during the course of hearing,” said the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC) which manages the mosque, had moved the top court yesterday, challenging the Allahabad High Court allowing the ASI survey in its order on Aug 3.

The hearing took place on the day the ASI resumed the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises here to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

ASI scientific survey is on in mosque complex; Muslim side present

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Saturday resumed its scientific survey work at the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi to determine whether the 17th-century masjid was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

Government counsel Rajesh Mishra, who accompanied the ASI survey team during the day-long exercise a day before, on Saturday said the team started work in the morning and it would end at 5pm. The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee’s advocates also reached Gyanvapi. The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee was earlier boycotted the survey.

Deadline of scientific survey extended

On Friday, the Varanasi court also granted the ASI an additional 4 weeks to complete the survey, extending its original deadline from Friday to September 4.

Representing the Hindu petitioners, advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, said the deadline for completing the survey has been extended till September 4 from August 4.

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__Inputs from Aaj Tak, HT & NDTV.