PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday allowed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi.
“The Allahabad High Court has said that the ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex will start. The sessions court order has been upheld by the High Court”, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in Gyanvapi survey case, told reporters.
#WATCH | Allahabad HC has said that ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex to start. Sessions court order upheld by HC: Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in Gyanvapi survey case pic.twitter.com/mnQJrTzS09
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The Allahabad High Court dismissed the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee’s plea, challenging the ASI survey of the mosque complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee had challenged the Varanasi district judge’s July 21 order.
On July 21, Varanasi district judge A K Vishvesha ordered the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi complex on an application moved by four Hindu women on May 16, 2023. The order of the district judge, however, excluded the Wuzukhana (ablution pond area) of the complex, which has been sealed on the order of the top court.
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to not start the survey of Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi as the hearing on the matter was under way in the Supreme Court which put it on hold till 5 pm July 26.
The Supreme Court later corrected its order in relation to the Gyanvapi mosque case whereby, on July 24, it inadvertently disposed of an appeal of the committee questioning the maintainability of a suit by Hindus in the trial court seeking worship rights inside the mosque.
While granting the relief on the interim plea by staying ASI survey, the top court disposed of the main case on July 24. The mosque committee had moved the top court with its interim plea in the pending petition seeking a stay of ASI work. (ANI)