Varanasi: Gyanvapti Survey Starts, Report to be Submitted by Aug 4

Varanasi: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started a survey at the Gyanvapi mosque adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi on Monday. A 30-member team of ASI is taking part in this scientific survey to find out if the mosque was built on an ancient Hindu temple or not.

Last Friday, district judge AK Vishvesh directed the ASI to submit a report to the court by August 4, along with videos and photographs of survey proceedings.

The court also ordered the use of GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) technology for survey “just below the three domes” of the building in question”, and to conduct an excavation there “if required”.

A structure in the mosque’s wazukhana that is being claimed by the Hindu petitioners to be a shivling, will not be part of the survey, because of an earlier Supreme Court order to protect that spot in the complex.

On Monday, the Supreme Court will be hearing a petition filed by the Gyanvapi mosque management committee challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision upholding the right of five Hindu women to worship inside the Gyanvapi mosque.