The scientific survey of the complex began on Friday amid tight security, following Allahabad High Court's order, which allowed the ASI to conduct the survey, to determine if the mosque was built on a pre-existing temple.
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.
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.
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.
"If we call it a mosque, there will be a dispute. We should just call it Gyanvapi. I feel whoever has been blessed with sight by God, that person should see. What is a trishul (trident) doing inside a mosque? We did not put it there. There is security inside, there are Central forces are
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of condolence to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, expressing his sincere condolences and sympathy over the passing of Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer Al Saud