The Supreme Court has declined to stay the ongoing scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The decision came after the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court took note of ASI's affidavit, assuring that no excavation would take place, and no harm would be caused to the mosque's structure during the survey.
The top court questioned the need for its interference with the ongoing scientific survey at this stage, as it said that the ASI has already clarified that the entire survey will be conducted without any excavation or damage to the structure.
"The court order is that the survey will continue. There will be no excavation or damage to the building. The survey exercise will be conducted without any damage to the building..," Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in Gyanvapi survey case said.
The ASI began conducting the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex on Friday, with heightened security observed around the premises. Advocates representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case confirmed the commencement of the survey and expressed uncertainty about its duration.
"All people (including ASI officials) have reached there. The survey has started. We are also going inside," said Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, an advocate representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case.
Sudhir Tripathi, another advocate representing the Hindu side, said only the ASI can tell as to how many days it will take to complete the survey. "It took seven to eight months to complete the survey of the Ram temple in Ayodhya...," he added.
The survey began a day after the Allahabad High Court dismissed the Muslim side's plea challenging the Varanasi court's July 21 order and allowed the ASI to conduct the survey to ascertain if the mosque was built upon a temple.
On Thursday, the high court upheld the Varanasi district court order on July 21, that had allowed the ASI survey of the complex. After the ASI started conducting the survey July 24, senior counsel Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, sought a stay on the Varanasi district court’s order. Following this, the Supreme Court halted the survey at least till 5 pm on July 26. It also asked asked the Allahabad Court to decide matter afresh.
The high court then delivered its verdict on Thursday, dismissing the plea filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid. The committee, which manages the mosque, had challenged the Varanasi court order, saying, "How can we participate when there is Supreme Court hearing in the same case today?"
First Published: Aug 4, 2023 7:35 AM IST
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