Scientific survey of Gyanvapi called off after SC's order

Varanasi: The 'scientific survey' of the Gyanvapi complex started by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was called off on Monday following the Supreme Court order staying the Varanasi district court’s order asking ASI to carry out a survey.

Sources said earlier as per the order of the Varanasi court a team of nearly 30 members of ASI entered the Gyanvapi complex which is adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple along with lawyers from Hindu side and four women plaintiffs.

Counsels of Muslim side and the members of Anjuman Intezamia Committee, which manages day to day affairs of the Gyanvapi mosque, boycotted the exercise to mark their protest against the survey ordered by the District Court.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Ashok Mutha Jain reached the spot along with large number of police force. Tight security arrangements were made as PAC personnel along with central forces were deployed in and around the complex in wake of the ASI survey.

Counsel of Hindu side Madan Mohan Yadav said the survey began at 7:15 am and lasted till 11:15 am.

He said lawyers from Hindu side and four Hindu women plaintiffs were present during the survey.

Last night a meeting was held by District Magistrate S Rajalingam along with senior police officials regarding ASI survey when the team arrived from Delhi and other places including Patna and Agra.

A high alert was issued in the city in wake of the ASI survey.

The Supreme Court, in its interim order, stayed the Varanasi district court’s order asking ASI to carry out a survey of Gyanvapi mosque until 5:00 PM Wednesday.

"We are of the view that some breathing time should be granted to appeal," the Apex Court's Chief Justice of India (CJI), Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chadrachud, who led the bench, said.

The Apex Court passed the interim order on Monday, after hearing a mention by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, challenging the Varanasi district court's order for an ASI survey of the mosque complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple.

It may be noted that on July 21 the Varanasi district court ordered the ASI to undertake a 'scientific survey' of the Gyanvapi mosque complex and submit a report by August 4. District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha came up with the order after hearing the arguments of the counsels from the Hindu and Muslim sides. (UNI)