On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled against the Muslims by refusing to stay the Allahabad High Court order allowing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey at the Gyanvapi mosque complex to determine if the 17th-century structure was built upon a pre-existing temple.
To survey without resorting to invasive acts, the bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justice J B Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra issued an order to the ASI.
Legal counsel for the ASI and the state of Uttar Pradesh, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, assured the bench that no excavations or other damage would be done to the building as part of the survey.
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, 2023
A court in Varanasi has given ASI four more weeks to finish its survey.
Earlier today, a court in Varanasi extended the ASI’s scientific examination deadline of the Gyanvapi mosque, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, by four weeks.
District Judge A K Vishvesha heard the ASI’s request for more time and granted it.
Read more article
- BREAKING: Varanasi Court Allows ASI Survey Of Gyanvapi Mosque Premises Barring Wuzukhana; Hindu Side Benefits
- Gyanvapi Mosque Case: Allahabad High Court Allows ASI Survey, Muslim Side to Appeal SC Order
Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, representing the Hindu petitioners, claimed that the new deadline for completing the survey is September 4.
On July 24, the ASI suspended the survey because the Allahabad High Court was considering a petition challenging the study. As of Friday morning, August 3, with permission from the HC, the ASI had resumed the survey.
The Muslim side, however, has appealed the HC ruling to the Supreme Court.