Varanasi court allows ASI survey of Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex

New Delhi: In a major development, the Varanasi district court gave its approval for an archaeological survey (ASI) of Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court has also directed Uttar Pradesh government to bear the cost of the survey.

The petition was filed by a lawyer VS Rastogi who demanded restoration of the land entailing Gyanvapi Mosque to Hindus claiming that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1664 pulled down a portion of 2000 year old Kashi Vishwanath Temple to build the Gyanvyapi Mosque there.

This comes as a setback to Gyanvyapi Mosque management committee as the petition was opposed by it.