ASI Seeks 15 Days More to Complete Gyanvapi Mosque Survey

Lucknow: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has prayed the Varanasi court for a 15-day second extension to file its report on the ‘scientific survey’ of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

The Varanasi court is scheduled to hear the plea for a second extension at 2 pm on Friday.

The survey was ordered by a Varanasi court, to check if the mosque was built over a Hindu temple.

The ASI was to submit its report to the court last Monday. It was given one extension on November 2 as the ASI officials told the court they needed more time to compile the survey findings.

The Gyanvapi mosque is located beside the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

The survey began after the Allahabad High Court upheld the Varanasi court order to survey the mosque. The mosque committee moved the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court’s order, but on August 4, the apex court refused to stay the High Court’s order on the survey.

The Supreme Court stressed that “non-invasive” methods had to be employed.