New Delhi: After hearing a plea filed by the Gyanvapi mosque committee against the Varanasi district court order for the survey, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday reserved its judgment and said that it will pronounce its verdict on August 3. The stay on the ASI-led survey has been extended till then.
This comes days after the Supreme Court stopped a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises in Varanasi by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to grant time for a challenge. The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee approached the High Court which heard the matter.
Allowing an application by four Hindu women petitioners, District and Sessions Judge Dr Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha, in his order on Friday, had directed the ASI to “conduct Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey just below the 3 domes of the building in question and conduct excavation if required”.
The survey was to exclude the wuzukhana area, which was sealed last year on the orders of the Supreme Court after Hindu litigants pointed to the presence there of what they identified as a Shivling. Muslim litigants say the object is a fountain.
The order was challenged in the Supreme Court. A bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud put the order on hold until July 26 to allow the mosque committee to move the High Court against the district court’s order.
“We permit the petitioners to move the High Court…to challenge the order of the District Judge, Varanasi. Having regard to the fact that the order of the district court was pronounced at 4.30 pm on July 21, 2023, and the survey is in the process of being carried out today, we are of the view that some breathing time should be granted to the petitioners to move the High Court seeking appropriate reliefs. We direct that the order of the District Court shall not be enforced till 5 pm on July 26, 2023,” a bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud ordered.
Agencies

KR Desk