Win for Hindu side: Varanasi court allows ASI survey of Gyanavapi mosque

New Delhi: In a clear victory for the Hindu side, a Varanasi court on Friday allowed the survey of entire Gyanvapi mosque, located adjacent to the famed Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has been entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out ‘scientific survey’ of the entire mosque complex. The survey will however not cover the disputed ‘Shivling’ structure & also the ‘wazookhana’.

The decision came following an application filed by Hindu women worshippers. The petition for survey was filed by lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, seeking court’s direction for ASI survey of the entire Gyanvapi mosque complex.

According to reports, the city court also ordered the ASI officials to submit study report regarding survey by August 4. The sealed Wazukhana will be excluded from the ASI survey.

Arguing for the Hindu side, Jain said that the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque dispute can be solved by archaeological probe of the entire mosque complex.

The petition was filed in May 2023 year by 5 Hindu women, who had earlier sought permission to pray at the “Shringar Gauri Sthal” inside the shrine complex.

More details awaited.