THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL Survey of India (ASI) has moved a fresh application before a Varanasi court seeking an additional three weeks' time to submit its report on the court-ordered scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex to ascertain whether the mosque was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”. The ASI’s counsel Amit Srivastava said the court was likely to hear the application in this regard on Wednesday. This is the seventh time that the ASI has sought additional time to file the report, he added In its application, ASI said that it has completed a scientific investigation/ survey at the site but the preparation of a report conducted by GPR (Ground penetrating radar) is underway, so it needs more time to prepare a detailed survey report for submission. In July, a Varanasi court ordered a scientific survey of the complex to ascertain whether the mosque was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”. The survey was to exclude the wazukhana area sealed on the Supreme Court order. Varanasi District and Sessions Judge AK Vishvesha had directed the ASI to “undertake scientific investigation/survey/excavation at the property in question i.e. settlement plot number 9130 (Gyanvapi mosque)”. However, the survey was halted after the mosque committee approached the Allahabad High Court, and then the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the survey. Both courts cleared the decks for the survey and it was resumed on August 4 amid security arrangements. Since August 4, ASI officials have been conducting the survey at the campus.
