The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) resumed the court-ordered scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex amid heavy security arrangements. Representatives of the Hindu petitioners and the Gyanvapi mosque management committee and Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (AIM), joined the survey as experts began 3D mapping of the compound and also checked out one of cellars.
Police personnel in large numbers were seen keeping a vigil around the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvapi mosque. A district administration official said, “The ASI team reached the spot around 7 am amid heavy police force. There was some delay as the mosque committee didn’t handed over the keys to the mosque. It was cleared by 9 am and subsequently the survey started.” More than 40 ASI officials were engaged in the survey to find out whether the “present structure was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”, said the official.
However, except for the cellar in possession of the Vyas family, no other rooms in the basement locked by AIM were opened for examination. Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, the lawyer representing the Hindu side, reported that the ASI team not only carried out cleaning, measuring, and mapping work but also studied the western wall, which is believed by some to contain remains of a temple. Additionally, the team inspected the cellar under the possession of the Vyas family.
The survey was ordered by the Varanasi district judge’s court on July 21 in response to an application filed by four women plaintiffs seeking worship of goddess Shringar Gauri and other deities in the Gyanvapi mosque compound. AIM objected to it. The ASI survey initially began on July 24, but was halted for a short period after the Supreme Court allowed AIM to approach the Allahabad high court. After AIM’s plea was dismissed by the HC on August 3, the ASI resumed its survey.
SC allows survey in non-invasive way
The Supreme Court earlier permitted ASI to carry out a non-invasive scientific survey of mosque using photography, GPR survey and radar imaging technology. The SC nod came after ASI assured it “no damage to the wall or structure” would be caused during the study. The SC said there is no ground to interfere with the interlocutory order passed by the HC (permitting the survey),” a bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justices J BPardiwala and Manoj Mishra said as it dismissed the challenge of the mosque management committee to the Varanasi district judge’s July 21 order, upheld by Allahabad HC to let ASI carry out the survey.