THE archaeologist heading the survey team at Gyanvapi mosque last year, Alok Tripathi, has retired from the post of Additional Director General (Archaeology) in the ASI after turning 60 in August, but is continuing to serve the agency in another position — ADG (Research and Training – Capacity Building) — following an extension of three months, subject to ex-post facto ratification by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The ACC, meanwhile, has approved the appointment of T J Alone, Joint Director General (archaeology), on the post of ADG (archaeology) vacated by Tripathi. Tripathi, a professor in the department of history at Assam University, Silchar, who was appointed to the ASI on deputation in 2021, was earlier granted four extensions as ADG (archaeology) — up to August 31 — till he reached the retirement age of 60. The fourth extension — from July 13 to August 31 — had been made via an office order of the ASI after the approval of the Ministry of Culture, subject to the “ex-post facto ratification by the ACC”. This was approved by the ACC in its latest order announcing the appointment of T J Alone on the post vacated by Tripathi. In the meantime, another ASI office order issued on August 29 extended Tripathi’s deputation by three months – till November 30, 2025 – after attainment of retirement age on August 31 “against the vacant post of ADG (Research and Training – Capacity Building)”, again subject to the ex-post facto ratification by ACC. Officials in the Ministry of Culture told The Indian Express the retirement age in Assam University, Silchar, of which Tripathi is an employee, is 65 and not 60. Hence, he has been deputed to the vacant post of ADG (Research and Training – Capacity Building) for three months, subject to ACC ratification. No timeline has been specified on the ACC ratification of the ASI order. Service rule breach? The post that Tripathi will occupy over the next three months has specific recruitment rules governing it. These can be seen in the advertisement issued by ASI in the Employment News dated April 22-28, 2023. For occupying the position of ADG (Research and Training – Capacity Building) by deputation, the maximum age for an eligible candidate is 56. Tripathi is holding that post at 60 without prior approval of the ACC. Sources in the Ministry of Culture say the selection process was carried out as per the present rules. However, the candidate selected via the process could not join for some reason. So, instead of keeping the post vacant, Tripathi has been deputed for a period of three months, subject to ACC approval. When contacted, ASI spokesperson Nandini Bhattacharya Sahu told The Indian Express that the deputation of Tripathi has been extended by the Ministry of Culture. ASI director (administration) Rajender Singh Khichi, who issued the office order extending Tripathi’s deputation beyond retirement, declined to comment, saying he was not authorised to speak to the media. In July 2023, the Varanasi district court directed the ASI to primarily find out whether the Gyanvapi mosque was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”, in response to a plea filed by five women. Following the court order, the ASI set up a 50-member team led by Tripathi last year. After conducting a physical survey of the Gyanvapi mosque, the team came out with an 839-page report that said “there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure” at the site. Tripathi has also been leading the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of ASI, which was recently revived and has undertaken offshore surveys and investigations in Dwarka and Bet Dwarka in Gujarat. He was also part of the survey team on Bhojshala, in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, last year, which was constituted to find evidence of Hindu temple at the 11th-century monument.
