The Supreme Court on Friday declined to stay the scientific survey by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the Gyanvapi mosque premises in Varanasi.
According to officials, the ASI survey that started at 7.00 am on Friday with a team of 40 experts, has been stopped for lunch and is scheduled to resume after 02.30 pm.
"All people (including ASI officials) have reached there. The survey has started. We are also going inside," Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, Advocate representing the Hindu side on the Gyanvapi case told ANI.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will conduct the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Friday.
An advocate of the Masjid Committee mentions the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud seeking an urgent hearing and asking the court not to allow ASI to carry out the survey.
“A solution can be found through dialogue. If you start a dialogue, a better solution might emerge. Therefore, our Muslim religious leaders and the Anjuman committee should take a big step forward so that some other ways can be found,” said Mohsin Raza, BJP leader and UP Haj Committee Chairm
The Allahabad High Court dismissed Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee's plea, challenging the ASI survey of the mosque complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.
While speaking to ANI, Keshav Prasad Maurya said," I welcome this verdict. I am confident that the truth will come out after the ASI survey and the Gyanvapi issue will be resolved like the Ramjanambhoomi case."
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday is expected to give its judgment related to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducting a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, except the Wazukhana that contains a structure claimed to be a Shivling.
The PIL, which was filed today, stated that the entry of non-Hindus should be banned so that the symbols found in the survey (Trident, Lotus and Swastika) are not harmed.