New Delhi: Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted permission to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi.
Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in Gyanvapi survey case said, “Allahabad HC has said that ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex to start. Sessions court order upheld by HC”
A Varanasi court last month gave its nod to ASI to conduct a survey of the mosque, except the Wazukhana that contains a structure claimed to be a Shivling. The aim of the survey is to determine whether the masjid was built demolishing Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Following this, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee had challenged the Varanasi District Judge’s July 21 order. The Allahabad High Court on Thursday dismissed Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee’s plea
Speaking on the issue, UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said, I welcome this verdict. I am confident that the truth will come out after the ASI survey and Gyanvapi issue will be resolved.
Meanwhile, reacting to the verdict, AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said, “We are hopeful that justice will be done as this mosque is around 600 years old and Muslims have been offering namaz there for the last 600 years. We also want that the Places of Worship Act should be enforced at all places of worship in the country. The Muslim side will think about approaching SC challenging this order.”
