Gyanvapi Mosque Committee Approaches Supreme Court After Allahabad High Court Allows ASI Survey In Mosque

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider listing a plea for tomorrow against Allahabad High Court's order of allowing ASI survey in the Gyanvapi mosque. Rejecting the Gyanvapi mosque committee's challenge, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday allowed the survey of the mosque. 

Advocate of the Masjid Committee mentioned the matter before Supreme Court saying not to allow ASI to carry out the survey. Supreme Court said it will look into the issue. One of the parties from the Hindu side has also filed a caveat in the apex court saying that no orders be passed without hearing them in the matter. 

Several BJP leaders on Thursday welcomed the Allabahad High Court order allowing the ASI survey at the Gyanvapi mosque in Uttar Pradesh, saying that the "truth" about the temple at the site will now come out. Speaking on the issue, BSP MP from Amroha Danish Ali said the Places of Worship Act, 1991, should be implemented in toto. Otherwise this will keep happening, people will look for a temple in a mosque and someone will look for a monastery in a temple. One can keep digging every day. Some political parties in order to divert attention from real issues of the people will keep taking political advantage," he said.

The Gyanvapi mosque row came to prominence after a group of women approached a lower court in Varanasi seeking permission from a Hindu deity in the mosque's complex on all days claiming a temple used to exist earlier. The Varanasi district court had on July 21 directed the ASI to conduct a "detailed scientific survey" -  including excavations, wherever necessary -- to determine if the Gyanvapi mosque is built upon a temple.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee, which manages the mosque, had moved the high court on July 25, a day after the Supreme Court halted the ASI survey till 5 pm on July 26, allowing time for the committee to appeal against the lower court's order. Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker had reserved the order on the mosque committee's petition on July 27 after hearing arguments from both sides.