Court bars ASI from sharing Gyanvapi survey with media

In its order, the court observed that if the media — print, electronic or social —still publishes “false” reports about the survey, action will be taken against them as per the law.

The petitioner in the matter had sought directions to stop social, print and electronic media from publishing or broadcasting “baseless and false reporting” on the survey.

Rajesh Mishra, special counsel for the Gyanvapi case in the Varanasi court, said District and Sessions Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid.

“The court in its order said the ongoing survey is a sensitive issue and no one should divulge its details. The ASI officials are bound to submit the survey report only in the court. Giving information on the survey to print, electronic and social media is not justified and lawful,” said advocate Akhlaq Ahmed, who represents the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee.

The ASI officials, plaintiffs, defendants, their lawyers and district government counsel (civil) have been directed not to share any information regarding the survey, said Rajesh Mishra.

On Tuesday, the AIM had moved the court, claiming that print, electronic and social media were sharing “false and wrong” information regarding the survey, which has led to misunderstanding among the public.

To avert any negative impact on the residents of Varanasi and neighbouring districts and to maintain peace, we requested the court to ban false media reports, said Akhlaq Ahmed.

On Thursday, the court-ordered survey starting around 8 am entered the seventh day. Along with the ASI team, representatives from both sides were also present. The survey concluded today at around 4.45 pm.

Last week, underlining that the key question for any determination under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, is the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, the Supreme Court declined to stop the survey by the ASI.

The survey was ordered by the Varanasi District and Sessions Court on July 21 and upheld by the Allahabad High Court on August 2.