VARANASI: The Varanasi district court asked the Archaeological Survey of India (BUT) on Wednesday to clarify its request for an additional three weeks to submit a scientific survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex, while reserving its order for Thursday.
This is ASI’s sixth request for an extension at different stages of the survey and the court had already granted five – on August 5, September 8, October 5, November 2, and November 17.
The mosque management committee represented by lawyer Mohammad Ikhlaq objected to ASI repeatedly seeking more time. After the ASI representatives explained the reasons, district judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha reserved his order.
“The court heard ASI’s technical reasons due to which time is taken in finalising the report of the survey,” standing government counsel Amit Srivastava said.
The court had initially ordered the survey on August 4, aiming to determine whether the 17th-century Gyanvapi mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a temple. The survey began on August 24 and ended on November 5. ASI then informed the court that it required additional time for the compilation of the final report.
The court granted an extension until November 17. Subsequently, ASI sought 15 more days, prompting the district judge to instruct the agency to submit the report by November 28.
This is ASI’s sixth request for an extension at different stages of the survey and the court had already granted five – on August 5, September 8, October 5, November 2, and November 17.
The mosque management committee represented by lawyer Mohammad Ikhlaq objected to ASI repeatedly seeking more time. After the ASI representatives explained the reasons, district judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha reserved his order.
“The court heard ASI’s technical reasons due to which time is taken in finalising the report of the survey,” standing government counsel Amit Srivastava said.
The court had initially ordered the survey on August 4, aiming to determine whether the 17th-century Gyanvapi mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a temple. The survey began on August 24 and ended on November 5. ASI then informed the court that it required additional time for the compilation of the final report.
The court granted an extension until November 17. Subsequently, ASI sought 15 more days, prompting the district judge to instruct the agency to submit the report by November 28.