On the third day of the ASI survey at the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, officials continued their scientific examination of the complex using various machines, including radars. A team of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials reached the Gyanvapi mosque here on Sunday morning to continue the scientific survey of the complex.
A heavy police force was also deployed in the area before the arrival of the ASI team.
Lawyers said that the primary stage of the court-ordered survey has been finished and the secondary stage will begin today with ‘machines’ including radars.
Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, an advocate representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case, said that on the third day of the survey, machinery will be used. The primary stage of the survey has been finished, we will move forward with the secondary stage, today.
Sudhir Tripathi, another advocate representing the Hindu side said, “Today is the third day of the survey. Several machines including Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) were used yesterday and there is a possibility that radars might be used today. We are satisfied with the survey and the Muslim side has no complaints and they also cooperating.”
The scientific survey of the complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, excluding Wuzu Khana, began on Friday, following Allahabad High Court’s order, which allowed the ASI to conduct the survey, to determine if the mosque was built on a pre-existing temple.
Earlier on Saturday, during the second day of the survey, Advocate Tripathi said that the scientific survey will clear everything.
“It is the second day of the survey. We want people to cooperate in the survey and get it completed as soon as possible. We are showing full cooperation and involvement. They have come at the direction of the Supreme Court. We welcome it. We want the matter to be resolved soon. The survey will clarify everything,” the lawyer said.
On Thursday, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a plea filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, challenging the Varanasi court’s decision to allow the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The Varanasi District Judge, AK Vishvesha, ordered the ASI survey on May 16, 2023, based on an application made by four Hindu women. However, the order excluded the ‘Wazukhana’ area, where a ‘Shivling’ was purportedly discovered last year, and which has been sealed on the directive of the Supreme Court.
In response to the mosque committee’s challenge, the Supreme Court declined to stay the ASI survey, as Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, clarified that the survey would be non-invasive, without any excavation or damage to the mosque’s structure.
