Priya Aditi
According to the district magistrate of Varanasi, S Rajalingam, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will commence its scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex on Monday.
Sunday, the ASI team with all necessary equipment arrived in Varanasi.
“The ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) informed us that the survey will begin tomorrow,” said S Rajalingam, district magistrate of Varanasi, on Sunday. “We are making all the necessary preparations in terms of security,” he added.
Notably, a Varanasi court ordered an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex on Friday, excluding the ‘Wazukhana’ area, which has been sealed off.
“I’ve been informed that my application has been authorised and that the court has ordered an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, excluding the now-sealed Wazukhana. I believe the survey can be concluded within three to six months, said Hindu advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain.
Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, who also represents the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case, characterised the court’s decision as a pivotal moment in the proceeding.
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In May of this year, five women filed a petition requesting permission to pray at the “Shringar Gauri Sthal” located within the shrine complex. A structure, alleged to be a “Shivling” by Hindus and a “fountain” by Muslims, was discovered on May 16, 2012, during a court-ordered survey of the adjacent mosque to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
