The management committee of the Gyanvapi Mosque has informed the Allahabad High Court that conducting an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the mosque’s Wazukhana (ablution area) is not permissible, citing a standing Supreme Court order to preserve the area.
The Anjuman Intezamia Committee presented a counter-affidavit on Thursday, arguing against a petition seeking an ASI survey. The committee emphasized that the ongoing legal matters concerning the Wazukhana and an alleged ‘Shiv Linga’ discovered on the premises are currently under the apex court’s jurisdiction, which has issued a stay on any alterations to the site.
The counter-affidavit mentioned, “The responsibility for the safety and security of the area has been entrusted to the District Magistrate of Varanasi. Any further action regarding the area should be pursued through the Supreme Court to seek clarification on its 2022 order.”
The affidavit responded to a civil revision petition by Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs in the Shringar Gauri worship case, challenging the Varanasi district judge’s decision from October 21, 2023. The district judge had declined to order an ASI survey of the Wazukhana, excluding the area claimed to contain the ‘Shiva Linga’, based on the Supreme Court’s interim orders.*
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal of the Allahabad High Court acknowledged the affidavit and granted the petitioner’s counsel two weeks to submit a rejoinder affidavit. The case is set to be heard next on September 9.
Rakhi Singh, in her petition, has argued that a survey of the Wazukhana is essential for achieving a fair resolution in the ongoing litigation, suggesting that non-invasive survey methods could be used to assess the area without disturbing it.
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Earlier, the counsel for the petitioner argued the necessity of the ASI survey to ascertain the religious character of the entire Gyanvapi complex, including the areas around the controversial ‘Shiva Linga’. In 2023, the ASI had conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex following a Varanasi District Judge order and submitted its findings.
