The submission of ASI reports on Gyanvapi is expected on Dec 11 as per court order.

ASI gets 10 more days from Varanasi court to submit Gyanvapi scientific survey report. 

It is the sixth extension given by the court to the ASI to submit report, and may be the  last extension before submission of ASI report of Gyanvapi. 

Udita Singh | HENB | varanasi | Nov 30, 2023:: A Varanasi court on Thursday granted 10 more days to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete the Gyanvapi complex survey and submit its report. The court of district judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha passed the order on the ASI’s petition filed on November 28 seeking three weeks’ time for submitting the survey report.

“After taking into consideration the facts mentioned in the application and circumstances of the case, I find it proper to grant 10 days more time to ASI to file the report in the court. This court expects that within the provided time the ASI shall positively file the report and will not see further time.” the judge said, according to standing government counsel Amit Srivastava, who filed the plea on behalf of the ASI. With these strict remarks the district judge fixed December 11 for hearing and disposal of survey report. It is the sixth extension given by the court to the ASI to submit its report, and may be the  last extension before submission of ASI report of Gyanvapi. 

The ASI started the survey on August 4 in the barricaded area of the Gyanvapi complex following court orders to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. The Anjuman Intejamia Masjid (AIM) Committee raised objections over seeking more time repeatedly for completing the survey and its report, arguing that the ASI is seeking time to file the report again and again without any proper reason. In its petition, the ASI requested more time to assimilate information generated by the team and experts.

On July 21, the district judge court had ordered an ASI survey on the plea of four women plaintiffs in suit no. 18/2022.

In compliance with this order ASI had started scientific study of Gyanvapi mosque on July 24.

However, AIM filed a revision before the Allahabad High Court.

On the order of the HC, ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque was halted  on July 24 afternoon.

The HC dismissed the objection of AIM against district judge court order on August 3.

After it AIM took shelter in the Supreme Court against HC order.

The apex court refused to stop the ASI survey of Gyanvapi after which ASI resumed the survey from August 4.

As ASI’s survey could not be completed by August 4 it sought extension thrice on August 5, September 8 and October 5.

After the end of study and survey in the field at Gyanvapi mosque, the ASI on November 2 and 17 had moved pleas for another extension before it sought another extension of three weeks on November 28 to finalise the report by mentioning technical reasons consuming time delaying the process.

Defendants in cases like Anjuman Intejamia Masajid (AIM- Gyanvapi mosque management committee) had also raised serious objections over seeking more time repeatedly for completing the survey and its report by ASI when hearing on this plea took place in the court on Wednesday.

Taking his X handle, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain conveyed, “The district court Varanasi has given 10 days time to ASI to file its report in Gyanvyapi case as a last opportunity and has fixed 11.12.23 for hearing.”

On behalf of Hindu side, Advocated Vishnu Shankar Jain told HENB, ” The truth of Gyanvapi will be revealed soon after placing the ASI survey reports to the Hon’ble Court and the decision of the Court in the related matters’.

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__Inputs from TH and TNN.