Varanasi, Jan 25 (PTI) – The Gyanvapi mosque case has taken a significant turn as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) released its survey report this week. The dispute centers around a structure found on the premises during a court-mandated survey next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Eleven individuals, representing both Hindu and Muslim sides, have applied for copies of the ASI report.
Lawyers for the Hindu litigants express confidence that the survey will clarify the debate over the nature of the structure, whether it is a ‘Shivling’ or a fountain. The Varanasi court had earlier directed the ASI to make the report public and provide copies to both parties.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, emphasized, “The ASI has said that there existed a large Hindu Temple prior to the construction of the existing structure. This is the conclusive finding of the ASI.”
The conflict arose when a structure was discovered during the court-mandated survey, leading to the sealing of the ‘Wazu’ area in 2022. The Hindu side claims it is a ‘Shivling,’ while the Muslim side labels it a fountain.
The ASI conducted a scientific survey following a district court order in July 2023 to determine if the mosque was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple. Jain expressed optimism, stating, “I am confident that we will be able to see the day when Gyanvapi will be free of this illegal encroachment.”
The Varanasi district court, on Wednesday, directed the ASI to make the report public and provide hard copies to both sides. Advocates for the Hindu side claim evidence suggesting that the temple was demolished for mosque construction.
The ‘Wazu’ area remains sealed since 2022, and its cleaning was directed by the Supreme Court in January. The ongoing legal battle intensifies as the ASI report becomes a pivotal document in the Gyanvapi Mosque case.
Meanwhile, eleven individuals, including representatives from both Hindu and Muslim sides, have applied for copies of the ASI survey report. The applicants are expected to receive the report after scrutiny, according to Hindu side counsel Madan Mohan Yadav.
The Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute continues as both sides stake claim to the structure found during the court-mandated survey. The ASI report’s contents are eagerly awaited as they hold the potential to shape the outcome of this longstanding legal conflict.