What exactly did Allahabad High Court say in Gyanvapi case?

The Allahabad High Court, on Thursday, gave the go-ahead for the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, while also admitting that either party was free to question the material of such findings.

A 16-page Allahabad High Court order, delivered by Chief Justice Pritinker Diwakar, said it did not find any merit in the argument that a detailed survey carried out by the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) will cause harm to the existing structure.

The Chief Justice banked on the submission by an expert from the ASI to give the green signal for “…a detailed survey in accordance with law and prepare a list of the antiquities which are found in building and carry out detailed survey and undertake the exercise to find age and nature of the structure. Survey, documentation, photography, detail description, GPR (ground penetrating radiation) survey and full studies without harming the existing structures, all the aforesaid works would be carried without any damage to the structure. The scientific investigation would be carried out beyond the structure and in open areas only; no drilling, no cutting, no removal of brick or stones from the existing structure will be done while conducting the survey and study. It has been further submitted that archaeological sites will be in open place floor area which will not affect the structure at all, and no wall/structure would be damaged and the entire survey will be conducted by the non-destructive method by using techniques such as GPR survey, GPS survey, the other scientific methods and other modern techniques. It has also been submitted that in case any further investigation/excavation is required, permission of the Hon’ble Court would be sought.”

The detailed order, uploaded a little while ago, has also dismissed the submission that the suit is barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. “…this question is not the subject matter, for the time being, because none of the parties has raised any grievance before the Court below while making their submission in support of their application,” noted the judge.

The judge has also objected to the ASI being made a party in the light that “In this advance stage of time, many new things have been developed and now with the help of new technology and able guidance of responsible officers of ASI, the scientific investigation can be made”.