Lagatar24 Desk
Varanasi, July 21: A Varanasi court has directed to conduct an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, with the exception of the Wazu tank, which has been shut, Vishnu Shankar Jain, the attorney for the Hindu side in the case stated.
“I have been informed that my application has been approved and the court has given directions to conduct an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, excluding the Wazu tank which has been sealed. I think the survey can be completed within 3 to 6 months,” he said.
The court’s judgement, according to Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, who also represents the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case, is a turning point in the case.
“Our application for the ASI survey has been accepted. It’s a turning point in the case,” he said.
The court issued its ruling in response to a plea from the Hindu side asking that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) be directed to conduct a “scientific survey” of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises.
The court’s decision on the case is keenly anticipated by the Hindu side’s attorneys and supporters.
The court ended its hearings on the petition on Friday.
Five women who had previously requested permission to pray at the “Shringar Gauri Sthal” inside the shrine complex submitted the petition in May of this year. On the grounds of the mosque, a structure was discovered that was described as a “Shivling” on one side and a “fountain” on the other.
The Wazukhana with the “Shivling”-like construction will not be included in the survey. The area has been sealed and the Supreme Court is hearing the case. It’s expected that the Muslim side will appeal this decision to the Allahabad High Court.
Vishnu Shankar Jain stated on July 14 that they preserved our point in front of the court.
“On May 21, the Honourable Supreme Court ruled in our favour. We continued to present our case to the district court, asking that ASI conduct an examination of the site. Let’s wait for the judge’s ruling.”
A petition opposing the Allahabad High Court’s order requiring the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a “scientific survey,” including carbon dating, of a “Shivling” allegedly discovered at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a video graphics survey last year was filed by Hindu petitioners in the Gyanvapi case earlier on July 6.
The carbon dating of the “Shivling” had previously been placed on hold by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the Allahabad High Court’s order’s instructions should not be implemented until the next hearing date.
The scientific examination of the “Shivling” within the boundaries of the Gyanvapi complex was permitted by the Allahabad High Court, with the supervision and guidance of District Judge Varanasi.
The High Court had instructed the Varanasi District Judge to handle the Hindu devotees’ request for a scientific investigation of the “Shivling” in accordance with the law.
Laxmi Devi and three other petitioners had brought an appeal against the lower court’s decision to the High Court.
