The Allahabad High Court today rejected the Gyanvapi mosque committee’s challenge to ASI survey at the Varanasi mosque and allowed the survey to continue.

The ASI survey was ordered by the Varanasi district court on July 21, based on a petition by four women who claimed it was the only way to determine whether the landmark mosque was built after razing a Hindu temple. The mosque is located right next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

The ASI had started a survey on July 24, but it was stayed within hours by the Supreme Court after the mosque committee approached it. The mosque committee had argued that the structure is over a thousand years old and any digging might destabilise it, leading to its collapse. The committee had also argued that any such survey is in violation of existing laws around religious places.

The centre had, however, assured the Supreme Court that the survey will not alter the structure in any way and stressed that “not a brick has been removed nor is it planned”. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta had said the survey plan includes only measurement, photography and radar studies.

The court allowed the petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court to challenge the order. After hearing the matter for two days, July 26 and 27, the high court had reserved its judgment for today.

The Gyanvapi mosque had hit headlines in 2021 after a group of women approached a lower court in Varanasi for permission to worship Hindu deities in the Gyanvapi complex on all days of the year.

The post Allahabad HC allows Gyanvapi survey first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.