Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque Survey Begins, Report Due On August 4

While passing the order, the Varanasi district court held that the scientific investigation is "necessary" for the "true facts" to come out.

A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began "scientific survey" of Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque today even as the mosque management committee filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Varanasi local court's order allowing the inspection. The survey - which began at 7 am - will extend to all areas except the sealed "wuzukhana" where a structure that Hindu litigants claimed to be a 'Shivling' - a relic of Lord Shiva -- was discovered during an inspection in 2022. The ASI has to submit the report to the district court by August 4.

The inspection is being carried out following an order by the Varanasi district court on Friday. While passing the order, the court held that the scientific investigation is "necessary" for the "true facts" to come out.

"I think the survey can be completed within 3 to 6 months," advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain who represented the Hindu side was quoted as saying on Friday.