ASI asks 4 weeks time in Gyanwapi mosque case to make report public

Allahabad: The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday sought another four weeks from the Varanasi district court for the report on the Gyanvapi Mosque case to be made public. The case revolves around the demand to reveal the ASI findings in the legal battle over the mosque.

The decision holds crucial implications for the ongoing dispute which might be out tomorrow.

The ASI submitted the survey report in a sealed cover to the district court on December 18.

The court ordered the survey after the petitioners claimed that the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing temple. The petitioners also seek the “restoration” of a temple beneath the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.

The court had fixed December 21 to open the sealed report and shared its copies with the advocates.

The Muslim side had on that day appealed to the court not to make the survey report public. The Hindu side had sought that the report be made public.

The ASI carried out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, to determine whether the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

The survey was carried out following the district court’s July 21 order that mentioned the need to survey beneath the mosque’s domes, the cellars and the western wall.

It also said that the ASI should examine the plinth and pillars to determine the age and nature of the building.

The court had asked the ASI to ensure no damage to the structure standing on the disputed land.

The court had also ordered the Director of ASI to conduct a detailed scientific investigation by using a GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) survey, dating method and other modern techniques.