The Allahabad High Court on Monday postponed the hearing of a petition seeking an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the wazukhana area inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, excluding the structure described by the Hindu side as a shivling, until January 16.
The matter came up before Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, who was informed that a related issue is currently pending consideration before the Supreme Court. Following this submission, the court adjourned the proceedings.
The civil revision petition has been filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs in the ongoing Gyanvapi case, challenging a Varanasi court’s order dated October 21, 2023. The order had declined to instruct the ASI to conduct a survey of the wazukhana (ablution) area, except for the structure that remains in dispute — viewed by the Hindu side as a shivling and by the Muslim side as a fountain.
In her plea, Singh has argued that a comprehensive ASI examination of the wazukhana is necessary “in the interest of justice,” stating that such a survey would assist both plaintiffs and defendants and support the court in arriving at a conclusion in the larger suit.
The Gyanvapi dispute, centred on claims of historical religious structure and worship rights surrounding the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, remains under continuous judicial scrutiny, with multiple related matters currently pending across different courts including the Supreme Court.
