New Delhi: In a relief to the Hindu side, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order allowing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. The survey is being done to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was built over the pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice J. B. A bench of Justice Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra restrained the ASI from carrying out any act of sabotage during the survey.
The bench took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ASI and the Uttar Pradesh government, that no excavation would be done during the survey and no damage would be caused to the structure.
A district court had directed the ASI to conduct a survey to determine whether the mosque was built over a pre-existing temple.
The decision was challenged by the Anjuman Intejamia Masjid Committee in the Allahabad High Court, but it dismissed the petition on Thursday. After that, the matter reached the Supreme Court.
