Gyanvapi dispute: Varanasi court directs ASI to hand over items recovered during mosque survey

The Varanasi district court presiding over the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi mosque cases has instructed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to provide the district administration with any items discovered during the scientific survey of the premises.

This directive was issued by District Judge A K Vishvesha during a hearing on Wednesday, where several applications from the Hindu side seeking the protection of the site were considered.

Also read:Gyanvapi case: A complete timeline of events

Judge Vishvesha stated in his order, “Given the ongoing scientific survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at the site and after a thorough examination of all relevant facts, I believe it is appropriate to submit any objects and items discovered at the site in question, which may have a connection to this case, Hindu religion, worship, or historical significance and are crucial for the resolution of this case, to the district magistrate or a designated officer. They can securely safeguard these items and present them before the court when required.”

Additionally, the judge has instructed the ASI to compile a comprehensive list of all items uncovered during the survey and provide copies of this list to both the court and the district magistrate.

Also read: ASI resumes work on scientific survey of Gyanvapi mosque premises in Varanasi

Earlier on September 8, the district court had granted the ASI an additional four weeks to complete the court-mandated scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises and submit a report. This survey, taking place in Uttar Pradesh, is still ongoing.

One of the Hindu side’s applications, led by petitioner Rakhi Singh, alleged that the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee regularly visited the Gyanvapi mosque and was involved in trying to eradicate Hindu symbols found during the ASI survey done by the commission in her other application, last year in May.

Also read: Gyanvapi case: Varanasi court allows plea seeking ASI survey of mosque premises

Responding to this allegation, the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee claimed that the application aimed to prevent Muslims from praying at the mosque and should be dismissed. They argued that the accusation of evidence related to the Hindu religion being eradicated was untrue.

According to a survey conducted by a court-ordered local commission in May, Hindu symbols were preserved and not destroyed. The mosque committee also stated that the property in question, plot number 9,130, had always been an endowment property, where the Muslim community in Varanasi had the right to offer prayers.

On July 21, the district court issued a directive ordering the ASI’s director to “undertake scientific investigation/survey/excavation at the property in question, i.e., settlement plot number 9,130 (Gyanvapi mosque).” The wuzukhana area was excluded from the survey as it had been sealed by the Supreme Court. However, the survey was temporarily halted after the mosque committee approached the Allahabad High Court and later the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the survey. Both courts eventually cleared the way for the survey to resume on August 4, with security arrangements in place. ASI officials have been conducting the survey at the mosque since August 4, throughout the week.