Varanasi court grants 8 more weeks to ASI to complete scientific survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex
Varanasi court on Friday granted eight more weeks to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex and submit its report, government counsel Rajesh Mishra said. District Judge A K Vishvesh dismissed the mosque management committee's objection and provided the additional time to the ASI, Mishra said.
The ASI is carrying out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, next to Kashi Vishwanath temple here, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.
The survey began after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that the step is «necessary in the interest of justice» and will benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides.
Advocate of the Hindu side Madan Mohan Yadav said the court had earlier given time till September 4 to survey the Gyanvapi complex except the Wazoo khana and submit its report. As the survey work was not complete, the advocate of the Archaeological Survey of India had sought additional time of eight weeks to complete the survey work.
During the last hearing, the Muslim side had presented its objection and said the ASI team was not authorised to survey the premises by removing debris or garbage.
Gyanvapi management opposes ASI plea for more time to complete mosque survey
Gyanvapi case: Archaeological Survey of India can't remove debris, says mosque panel
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The Muslim side alleged that ASI is digging in the basement as well as other places of the Gyanvapi complex without permission and accumulating debris on the western wall of the structure, which may
