Allahabad HC rejects plea challenging ASI survey of Gyanvapi complex

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday rejected the plea of the Anujam Intezamia Masajid Committee challenging the Varanasi district court order for a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The bench of Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker, while rejecting the plea of the Masajid Committee in its order, said that the stay on the survey is being removed. In an affidavit filed by the ASI regarding the survey, the court said that there was no basis for disbelieving the affidavit.

In its affidavit, the ASI stated that not a single inch of damage would be caused to the structure of the Gyanvapi during its survey. In its affidavit, the ASI mentioned that it had no intention of carrying out excavation in the complex.

The court also upheld the order of the lower court in Varanasi to conduct the survey as correct. The court order has paved the way for the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi complex.

It may be noted that the Varanasi district court directed on July 21 a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex by the ASI, which was directed to submit its report by August 4.

However, the Anjuman Intezamia Committee moved the Supreme Court, which in its interim order stayed the Varanasi district court’s order directing the ASI to carry out a survey of Gyanvapi mosque, giving it time to file a petition in the High Court.

The Allahabad High Court, after hearing the arguments of both sides and the submissions of the ASI officials, reserved its order on July 27.

Earlier, objecting to the order of the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi complex, the counsels of the Intezamia Committee had argued that it would cause damage to the structure. (UNI)