The Allahabad High Court stayed the ASI Survey of Gyanvapi Mosque until August 3. On that day, the court will pronounce its verdict on the plea filed by the Anjuman Mosque Committee against the Varanasi district court's order for the ASI survey of the mosque premises. The interim order will continue till then.
"The Muslim side argued that the structure will be damaged if survey is carried out, however, the Additional Director (ASI) told the court that our affidavit clearly mentions that there will be no damage to the structure during the survey," said Vishnu Shankar Jain, advocate for Hindu petitioner.
Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, one of petitioners from Muslim side said, "It is absolutely wrong to say that a mosque was built after demolishing a temple. The photos that they (Hindu side) are showing in the court are not correct. They can't be considered as any evidence."
The Anjuman Mosque Committee had moved the high court yesterday challenging the order of the Varanasi court directing the ASI to survey the mosque premises. The Supreme Court then stayed the ASI survey till July 26, 5 PM so as to allow some "breathing time" to the Masjid committee to approach the high court.
While hearing the Anjuman Mosque Committee's plea, the court expressed its "strong doubts" regarding the work to be carried out by the ASI at the mosque complex. Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker made the oral observation after the ASGI, appearing for the ASI, failed to elaborate on the methodology being used for the survey.
