The Varanasi district court’s order for the survey was challenged by the Gyanvapi mosque committee, and after hearing their argument, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday reserved judgement and said that its decision would be made on August 3. Up until then, the ASI-led survey will continue.
The Supreme Court halted an archaeological investigation of the Gyanvapi mosque grounds in Varanasi a few days prior to allow time for a legal challenge. The High Court heard the case after being approached by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee.
District and Sessions Judge Dr. Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha had ordered the ASI to “conduct Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey just below the 3 domes of the building in question and conduct excavation if required” on Friday after granting an application from four Hindu women petitioners.
The survey was meant to leave out the wuzukhana area, which was shut on the Supreme Court’s orders last year after Hindu petitioners cited the location of what they claimed to be a Shivling there. Muslim plaintiffs claim that the item is a fountain.
The Supreme Court heard an appeal regarding the order. The verdict was delayed till July 26 by a bench chaired by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud so that the mosque committee may appeal the district court’s decision to the High Court.
“We allow the petitioners to appeal the District Judge of Varanasi’s decision to the High Court. Given that the district court’s ruling was issued at 4.30 p.m. on July 21, 2023, and the survey is still being conducted, we believe that the petitioners should be given some breathing room to petition the High Court for the necessary reliefs. We order that the District Court’s ruling not be put into effect until 5 p.m. on July 26, 2023, said a bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud.
