VARANASI — A Varanasi court on Friday allowed the “scientific survey” by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the Gyanvapi mosque, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The Varanasi court, however, clarified that the wuzukhana (place for ablution) where the ‘Shivling’ was found, will be kept out of the purview of the ASI’s “scientific survey”.
The court asked the ASI to submit its scientific report by August 4. The order is likely to be challenged in higher courts.
The Hindu side in the case had filed a petition seeking the court’s direction to the ASI to survey the entire Gyanvapi mosque complex.
The Hindu side is represented by lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain.
After the court agreed to hear the petition in May, it asked the Gyanvapi mosque committee to file its reply to the submissions made by the Hindu side.
In court, Jain argued that the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque dispute can be resolved only by an archaeological investigation of the entire mosque complex.
He said the situation can become clear after examining the three domes of the Gyanvapi complex, the western wall of the complex and the entire complex in a modern way. — IANS (Inputs added)
