Allahabad HC seeks more clarification over Gyanvapi mosque survey

The hearing will continue and the court made it clear that there can be no survey till Thursday evening, extending the Supreme Court-imposed freeze on survey.

On July 24, the apex court had halted a "detailed scientific survey" by the ASI, which was ordered earlier by a Varanasi court till 5 pm on Wednesday.

The survey was meant to determine if the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi was built upon a temple, as a Hindu group has contended.

In the wake of the Ram Janambhoomi issue, the mosque committee had asked the Supreme Court for a freeze on the ASI work, alleging a "tearing hurry" on the part of the authorities in going ahead with the survey.

However, the Archaeological Survey's response on their methodology has not satisfied the Allahabad court, which wanted details on how the survey could be conducted without damaging the existing mosque.

The counsels of the Muslim side had earlier objected to the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex by the ASI, stating that the excavation inside the complex may damage the structures.

Even during the hearing earlier in the day, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, which manages the mosque, said the 1000-year-old structure might collapse if the ground below it is excavated.

The Hindu group has submitted that excavations might be needed at the last stage. "ASI will do radar mapping. Excavation will also be conducted if circumstances demand, that too in the last stage," its counsel had said.

"Either you videograph the survey or submit that there will be no damage to the mosque," the court had said, to which the Hindu group had agreed.