A Varanasi court on Friday dismissed the Hindu side's plea for an additional survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Gyanvapi complex.
The court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Fast Track Court, Varanasi, presided by Yugul Shambhu, rejected the plea.
Advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi, representing the Hindu side, filed the petition. After the dismissal of the plea, Rastogi announced that he would file an appeal in the Allahabad High Court or district court.
"The court has rejected our application for an additional survey of the protection of the whole Gyanvapi area by the ASI...We will go to the high court against this decision...within the time limitation, within 30 days," said Rastogi.
The application for an additional survey was based on a previous directive issued on April 8, 2021. A detailed survey by a five-member ASI team, including an expert from a central university and a representative from a minority community, was specified in the order.
"We had requested the court to comply with its previous directive dated April 8, 2021, the court had clearly directed that the ASI form a five-member team, which would include a representative from a minority community and an expert from a central university in archaeology. However, the previous survey report was solely conducted by ASI, lacking this specified team composition,” said Rastogi.
Rastogi also pointed out that the survey request included the wazukhana (ablution area) and a 100-metre radius around it, but this area has yet to be fully surveyed.
"Our request was to excavate a 4x4 metre trench at a safe distance to allow ASI to access the area below the central dome and report back to the court."