Varanasi court grants ASI one more week for Gyanvapi Mosque survey report submission
Varanasi, December 11: The Varanasi district court has extended the deadline for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to present a scientific survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque complex by an additional week. This decision was made after the ASI requested more time to finalise the survey report. The court has scheduled December 18 as the next hearing date on the matter.
Earlier, the court had set deadlines for the ASI to submit the survey report, first asking for it by November 17, then extending it to November 28, and subsequently granting an additional 10 days until November 30. Despite the survey's conclusion nearly a month ago, the ASI has sought multiple extensions to compile and submit the report.
Initially commencing on August 4, the ASI's survey spanned 100 days within the mosque premises, excluding the Wuzukhana area sealed by Supreme Court orders.
On November 2, the ASI informed the court of completing the survey but requested extra time to compile the report and provide details about the survey equipment used. The court granted an extension until November 17 for document submission.
The survey was initially mandated by a Varanasi court on July 21 in response to a petition filed by four women seeking permission to pray at the Shringar Gauri Shrine located behind the temple's western wall.
Earlier, in August this year, the Allahabad High Court had granted permission to the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi.
- ANI
