Gyanvapi mosque case: Varanasi Court allows scientific survey, except sealed 'wuzukhana' area
Gyanvapi mosque case: The Varanasi Court on Friday granted permission for a "scientific survey" of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises, with the exception of the 'wuzukhana' area, which had been sealed based on the Supreme Court's directives.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will conduct the survey. However, it is anticipated that this order would be challenged in higher courts.
"I have been informed that my application has been approved and the court has directed to conduct an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, excluding the Wazu tank which has been sealed," Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in the case, said, according to news agency ANI.
In May, four women worshippers had filed an application, who asserted that the Gyanvapi Mosque, situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, displayed indications of being an ancient Hindu temple.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, the counsel for the Hindu side, earlier on July 14 said, "We kept our point in front of the court... Honourable Supreme Court on May 21 gave judgment in our favour.. we kept our viewpoint in front of the district court seeking an investigation of the site by ASI... Let us wait for the court’s order."
Earlier on July 6, Hindu petitioners in the Gyanvapi case urged the Supreme Court to hear at the earliest a petition challenging Allahabad High Court's order directing the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a "scientific survey", including carbon dating, of a "Shivling" said to have been found at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey last year.
Petitioners wrote a letter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court stating that the case was listed before the apex court on May 19, 2023, when it had deferred the implementation of the directions till July 6, 2023.
The Supreme Court had earlier put on hold the carbon dating of the "Shivling" saying that the implementation of the directions contained in the Allahabad High Court's order shall stand deferred till the next date of hearing.
The Allahabad High Court had allowed the scientific survey of the "Shivling" on the premises of the Gyanvapi complex under the supervision and direction of District Judge, Varanasi. A Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and KV Viswanathan had deferred the "scientific survey" saying, "Since the implications of the impugned order merit closet scrutiny, the implementation of the directions concerned in the order shall stand deferred till the next date."
The Bench had also issued notice to the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government on the appeal of the Gyanvapi mosque management committee against the High Court's order for scientific investigation by ASI to determine the age of "Shivling".
- With inputs from agencies
