Varanasi Court Grants Permission For ASI Survey Of Gyanvapi Mosque Premises

 Varanasi Court Grants Permission For ASI Survey Of Gyanvapi Mosque Premises, Except Wuzukhana

In a significant development, the Varanasi Court has granted permission for an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises, except the Wuzukhana. The order was passed by District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesha on July 21, 2023.

The petition for the ASI survey was filed by five Hindu women, who had sought permission to worship at a "Shivling" that they claimed was found in the mosque premises. The mosque authorities have denied the existence of any Shivling and have said that the structure is a fountain.

The ASI survey will be conducted by a team of experts from the agency. The team will be allowed to use all necessary scientific methods to conduct the survey. The survey will be completed within a period of three months.

The order of the Varanasi Court is a major setback for the mosque authorities. The mosque authorities had argued that the ASI survey would damage the mosque and that it was not necessary. However, the court has rejected these arguments and has ordered the ASI survey to be conducted.

The ASI survey is likely to be a lengthy and complex process. The ASI team will need to carefully examine the entire mosque premises to look for any evidence of a Hindu temple. The team will also need to use scientific methods to determine the age and origin of any structures that are found.

The ASI survey is likely to be controversial. The mosque authorities are likely to challenge the order of the Varanasi Court. The Hindu community is also likely to be divided on the issue of the ASI survey. Some Hindu groups have welcomed the order, while others have said that it is unnecessary.

The ASI survey is a significant development in the Gyanvapi mosque case. The survey is likely to provide more clarity on the history of the mosque and the possibility of a Hindu temple having existed on the site. The results of the survey could have a major impact on the ownership of the mosque and the rights of the Hindu community to worship there.

Background

The Gyanvapi mosque is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The mosque was built in the 17th century by Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor. The mosque is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the holiest Hindu temples in the world.

In 1991, a group of Hindu women filed a petition in the Varanasi court seeking permission to worship at a spot inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The women claimed that the spot was the location of a Hindu temple that had been demolished to build the mosque.

The Varanasi court ordered an archaeological survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises in 2020. The survey was conducted by a team of experts from the ASI. The team found a number of structures inside the mosque premises that they said could be of Hindu origin.

The mosque authorities challenged the findings of the ASI survey in the Allahabad High Court. The High Court ordered the ASI to conduct a further survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The High Court also directed the ASI to submit a report on the findings of the survey.

The ASI submitted its report to the High Court in May 2023. The report said that the ASI had found a number of structures inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises that could be of Hindu origin. The report also said that the ASI had found a "Shivling" in one of the rooms of the mosque.

The mosque authorities challenged the findings of the ASI report in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition of the mosque authorities and upheld the findings of the ASI report.

The ASI Survey

The ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises is likely to be a lengthy and complex process. The ASI team will need to carefully examine the entire mosque premises to look for any evidence of a Hindu temple. The team will also need to use scientific methods to determine the age and origin of any structures that are found.

The ASI team is likely to use a variety of scientific methods to conduct the survey. These methods could include ground-penetrating radar, 3D scanning, and chemical analysis. The team will also need to carefully document the findings of the survey.

The ASI survey is likely to be controversial. The mosque authorities are likely to challenge the order of the Varanasi Court. The Hindu community is also likely to be divided on the issue of the ASI survey. Some Hindu groups have welcomed the order, while others have said that it is unnecessary.

The Impact of the ASI Survey

The results of the ASI survey could have a major impact on the ownership of the Gyanvapi mosque and the rights of the Hindu community to worship there. If the ASI finds evidence that a Hindu temple existed on the site of the mosque,