The day after the Supreme Court granted time to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for a challenge in Varanasi, the Allahabad High Court began hearing a plea from the mosque committee against the Varanasi district court’s order for a survey. The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee approached the High Court, which heard the matter and scheduled further hearing for 9 am on Wednesday.
Senior Advocate S F A Naqvi, representing the mosque committee, stated that the Hindu side’s application for a survey was premature, as it should come after evidence from both parties and a conclusion reached by the court. Advocate Hari Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, argued that the court had the authority to seek scientific investigation or expert opinion at any stage.
The Varanasi court’s order on Friday directed the ASI to conduct a scientific investigation/survey/excavation of the Gyanvapi mosque premises to determine if the current structure was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple structure. The Supreme Court put this order on hold until July 26 to allow the mosque committee to challenge it in the High Court.
In a separate case, the High Court reserved judgement on petitions related to the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute, with a verdict expected on August 28. The court was hearing a petition by the mosque committee challenging a Varanasi court’s 2021 order for an ASI survey.
The court is set to pass judgement on August 28 regarding whether the April 8, 2021 survey order should proceed and if the case is affected by the Places of Worship Act.
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