‘If Felt Anything Wrong Is Being Done By ASI, Court Can Always Stop Them’: After Stay Extended, Allahabad HC To Commence Hearing Today

On 26 July, the Allahabad High Court extended the stay of the ASI Survey of Gyanvapi Mosque by one day, till 27 July. The matter will be heard today at 3:30pm.

The bench lead by the Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker has directed Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials to appear before the court today.

The court said, ‘Interim order by the apex court will continue’.

On 24 July, the Supreme Court stayed the ASI survey of the Mosque premises till 26 July, in order to allow some breathing time to the Anjuman Committee to approach the High Court.

Previously, the Varanasi Court had allowed ASI survey to be conducted in the premises. The said order was passed on an application moved by four Hindu Women who pleaded for year-round access to worship inside the premises.

Yesterday, the Anjuman Committee argued before the Allahabad High Court that the ASI was never a party to the suit and despite the same the Varanasi Court directed it to survey the Mosque premises.

They argued that if scientific survey is done in the way Hindu Women have argued, the entire Mosque premises would be destroyed.

The Assistant Solicitor General of India, contended that ground penetrating radar (GPR) method would be used by the ASI without causing any damage to the structure following the Varanasi Court’s order.

However, the bench was not convinced with respect to the working procedure, and thereby the bench called for an affidavit from an ASI official explaining the structure and details of the proposed survey.

Subsequently, an affidavit was filed by the ASI official stating that survey work would be carried out without causing any damage to the structure, and added that a team from IIT Kanpur will be called for a radar survey and GPR survey.

Taking into account the said submission, the court stated that even if it is felt that anything wrong can be done by the ASI, the court can always stop them.

However, due to paucity of time, the bench extended the stay order by a day to 27 July, when the matter will be heard again.