Varanasi District Court Judge AK Vishvesh fixed December 18 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

It is important to note that the district court has already given several extensions in the past to the ASI to submit its survey report. Earlier on November 30, the district court had given 10 days’ time and ordered the ASI to file the report within the “provided time.” Before November 30, the court had asked the ASI to submit its report on November 17, and later on November 28 to file its report.

On August 4, the Supreme Court refused to stop the ASI from surveying the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi, except the ‘wuzukhana’ area where a ‘shivling’ was claimed to have been found last year. 

Taking on record an undertaking made on behalf of the ASI that no excavation would be done at the site and no damage would be caused to the structure, the court had allowed the survey to take place.

On November 2, the ASI told the district court it had “completed” the survey but would need some more time to compile the report, along with the details of the equipment used in the survey.

The court had granted additional time till November 17 for submitting the document.

The ASI had been surveying since August 4 on the mosque premises. The survey was ordered by a Varanasi court on July 21, following a petition by four women who sought permission to pray at the Shringar Gauri Shrine which is behind the western wall of the temple.

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Published: 11 Dec 2023, 05:05 PM IST