Gyanvapi Mosque Survey Report: Parties to Get Copies, Public Release Delayed

Varanasi: The Varanasi District Judge overseeing the Gyanvapi mosque case has ruled that the hard copy of the survey report must be provided to petitioners and other involved parties. Despite this decision, the report will not be made public immediately.

The report, filed in a sealed cover nearly a month ago, will be accessible to parties once they apply to the court following the receipt of the court order later today. Upon application, the survey report will be photocopied and distributed to the concerned parties, a process expected to take about a week.

This report holds significant importance in the ongoing case where the Hindu side argues that the mosque was constructed on the site of a temple and insists on the right to worship.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) initiated the survey on August 4 last year, covering the Gyanvapi mosque premises, excluding the Wuzukhana area sealed by the Supreme Court. The ASI, having received multiple deadline extensions, submitted the report after the court’s order on July 21. This directive followed a petition by four women, asserting that a survey was necessary to determine if the mosque was built after demolishing a Hindu temple.

Earlier in April, the court had ordered a video survey of the complex based on the petition, revealing a structure in the Wuzukhana that the petitioners identified as a ‘shivling.’

The public release of the report is anticipated to take place after a week, shaping the final decision in a case that has garnered significant attention and legal debate.