A day after the Supreme Court permitted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, a team of experts reached the premises on Saturday morning. This is the second day of the 'scientific survey' to ascertain if the 17th century mosque was built on a Hindu temple.
The apex court on Friday refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order on the ASI survey of the mosque. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee, representing the Muslim side, had challenged the district court's order in the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed its petition on Thursday. The Muslim body then quickly approached the apex court stating that the exercise will reopen wounds of the past.
The SC, however, instructed the ASI not to carry out any invasive act during the survey. This ruled out excavations, which the Varanasi district court had said can be conducted if necessary. According to reports, the ASI will survey the mosque using ground radar technology. The Ground Penetrating Radar technology is likely to be used from Tuesday.
Security has been tightened around the mosque premises on the second day of the survey. According to reports, the Muslim side will also be present at the mosque on Saturday.
Earlier this week. the Varanasi court also granted the ASI an additional month to complete the survey, extending the deadline to September 4. The district court's July 21 order had mentioned the need to survey beneath the mosque's domes, the cellars and the western wall. It said the ASI should also examine the plinth and pillars to determine the age and nature of the building.
The mosque's 'wazukhana' reservoir, where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a 'shivling' exists, will not be part of the survey, the lower court had said, following an earlier Supreme Court order protecting the spot for people to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz.
-with PTI inputs
