Shruti Suman
On Monday, the Varanasi district court extended the deadline for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to submit a scientific survey report for the Gyanvapi mosque complex by one more week. This decision follows ASI’s request for an additional week to finalize and file the survey report. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 18.
During the previous hearing on November 30, the court had initially granted ASI a 10-day period to submit the report within the specified timeframe. The court had initially set November 17 as the deadline for ASI to submit its survey report. Subsequently, ASI was given an extension until November 28 to complete the report.
The survey, spanning 100 days, concluded nearly a month ago, and ASI had requested additional time to compile and submit its findings. The most recent extension was granted on November 18, when ASI sought an extra 15 days, and the court allowed a 10-day extension. Notably, the survey was conducted on the mosque premises starting from August 4, excluding the Wuzukhana area, sealed under the orders of the Supreme Court.
On November 2, ASI informed the court that the survey had been “completed,” but additional time was required to compile the report, including details about the equipment used. The court extended the deadline to November 17 for the submission of the comprehensive document. The survey itself was initiated by a Varanasi court on July 21, following a petition by four women seeking permission to pray at the Shringar Gauri Shrine located behind the western wall of the temple. In August of the same year, the Allahabad High Court granted permission for the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi.
