ASI survey of Gyavapi Mosque to continue: Allahabad HC
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will continue its scientific survey of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque premises as the Allahabad High Court on Thursday rejected the plea of the mosque management committee challenging the exercise. This comes nearly two weeks after the Supreme Court put a stay on the survey, asking the Muslim side petitioners to approach the high court for relief.
Why does this story matter?
The ASI survey of Gyanvapi Mosque began on July 24 on the orders of the Varanasi court. However, it was stopped on the SC order. The mosque is one of several structures that Hindu right-wing groups claim were built by Muslim invaders after destroying Hindu temples. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegedly fanned the issue, presenting it as a reclamation project for Hindus.
ASI survey necessary for 'interest of justice': HC
As reported by The Hindu, the high court has upheld the Varanasi District Court's decision to carry out an ASI survey at the Gyanvyapi Mosque. The chief justice-led bench stated that this survey was necessary for the sake of justice. Additionally, the court directed that all cases regarding worship rights on the mosque premises be resolved as soon as possible.
Crucial pleas before Allahabad High Court
Apart from the pleas by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, a group of right-wing activists also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the high court along with one of the Hindu petitioners in the case. The Hindu side had sought directions for the Uttar Pradesh Government to close the premises to prevent any harm to religious icons or symbols of the Hindu community.
Important developments around survey so far
The survey was ordered by the Varanasi District Court last month, but the Masjid Committee, which controls the mosque, opposed it in both the SC and the high court. Both courts postponed the survey till August 3. In May, the SC deferred the scientific survey, including the carbon dating of the disputed object, which was found during a videographic survey last year.
Survey deferred by SC in May
Last month, the ASI began the survey in the presence of four Hindu women plaintiffs and their counsels and the mosque management committee lawyers, accompanied by a team of the Uttar Pradesh Police. The ASI team measured some parts of the Gyanvapi mosque complex's barricaded area, photographed and captured on video, and even collected soil samples. The mosque committee members boycotted the survey.
