Update (August 4, 4:04 pm): Supreme Court declines to stay the scientific survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The top court has reiterated that the entire survey shall be conducted without causing any damage to the structure. “We restate the direction of the High Court that there shall be no excavation.”Supreme Court declines to stay the scientific survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. Supreme Court says that ASI has clarified that the entire survey would be completed without any excavation and without causing any damage to the… pic.twitter.com/Q2lF2uOkRD— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2023Gyanvapi mosque: ASI begins survey of complex amid tight securityA team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) arrived at the premises of the Gyanvapi mosque on Friday at around 7 am, which is close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and began a scientific assessment of the complex under strict security. The go-ahead for the survey was given by the Allahabad High Court on Thursday.The order given by the Allahabad High Court on August 3 came as a setback for the Muslim side as the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee had filed a petition objecting to the Archaeological Survey of Indias (ASI) survey of the mosque complex next to Varanasis Kashi Vishwanath temple but the court on Thursday proceeded with the orders of the survey. The mosque committee challenged the order of the Varanasi court on July 21.ASI begins survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex amid tight securityRead @ANI Story | https://t.co/RKQbFuvSaq#ASI #Survey #Gyanvapi pic.twitter.com/2wh9vkb0Ym— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) August 4, 2023However, the Wuzu Khana (ablution pond area) of the mosque complex, which has been sealed on the order of the top court will be excluded from the survey, according to the order of the district judge.VIDEO | Hindu side petitioners and their lawyers reach #Gyanvapi mosque as ASI team begins survey at the mosque survey. The Allahabad High Court has yesterday allowed the ASI to conduct as survey at the mosque complex in Varanasi. pic.twitter.com/64UMcspemJ— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 4, 2023The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the ASI to delay its thorough scientific investigation of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi until 5 pm on July 26 to determine whether the mosque next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi was built upon a temple. At that time, the hearing on the matter was in progress.It is to be noted here that one of the Hindu petitioners has also filed a caveat in the top court saying that no decision should be taken without hearing them in the case.
