The Varanasi district court granted an additional 10 days to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to finalise and submit the Gyanvapi survey report by December 11. This extension is the sixth since the initiation of ASI’s scientific study, which aims to determine whether the 17th-century mosque in Varanasi was constructed over a preexisting structure of a temple.
District judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha said: “After taking into consideration the facts mentioned in the application and circumstances of the case, I find it proper to grant 10 days more time to the ASI to file the report in the court. This court expects that within the provided time the ASI shall positively file the report and will not seek further time.”
The court had granted five extensions - on August 5, September 8, October 5, November 2, and November 17 - during different stages of the survey. Last week, ASI requested an additional three weeks to finalise the report, prompting the court to ask for an explanation about the need for another extension.
ASI initiated the scientific study of the Gyanvapi mosque on July 24. The agency’s fresh plea contained, “ASI experts are working hard to compile, interpret and meticulously analyse data collected through various scientific studies and field observations. Its field team is working hard to prepare a detailed and illustrated survey report covering every aspect regarding and in relation to the said survey. Required crosschecking, verification, correlation and compilation of findings to finalise the survey report based on systematic studies conducted by various expert teams is under process,” ASI had pleaded in the petition.