The Supreme Court today put on hold for two days the survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque.
The mosque's management committee had approached the court with apprehensions that the survey may lead to excavation at the historic mosque complex that is located right next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi.
The centre, however, assured the court that the survey will in no way alter the structure and stressed that "not a brick has been removed nor is it planned".
Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta told the court that the survey plan includes only measurement, photography and radar studies.
"It appears that ASI is not contemplating carrying out any excavation in pursuance of the order. We record the statement to the extent that no excavation at the site is contemplated at this stage for a period of one week until next week Monday," Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, taking the centre's submissions on record.
The mosque hit headlines in 2021 after a group of Hindu women approached an Uttar Pradesh court for permission to worship deities in the Gyanvapi complex.
A lower court then ordered a video survey of the complex during which an object was discovered that a section of people claimed to be a shivling. The mosque management committee, however, said it was part of a fountain in the wazookhana (pool) to wash hands and feet before prayers.
Keeping the sensitivity of the issue in mind, the Supreme Court sealed off the pool (wazookhana).
Earlier this year, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the mosque committee's petition that challenge the maintainability of the request to worship Hindu deities found inside the premises.
This order paved the way for the a Varanasi court's ruling, allowing a survey by the ASI inside the mosque complex except the pool area.
The mosque committee then approached the Supreme Court, expressing concerns regarding excavation activities.
The court has now allowed the petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court to challenge the order for the ASI survey and asked the high court's registrar to ensure that the matter is placed before a bench before the status quo order ends.
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