Varanasi: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began working on a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises here on Friday to determine whether the 17-th century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu Temple.
The survey began at around 7 AM, along with the representatives of the Hindu petitioners to a legal dispute involving the mosque, were present inside the complex underwater light security arrangements. The members of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee have boycotted the survey and representatives of the committee were to accompany the ASI team for the survey and abstained from doing so.
Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that the proposed step is necessary in the interest of justice and will benefit both sides.
The Gyanvapi Mosque is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was constructed by Aurangzeb in 1669 upon the demolition of an older Shiva Temple. The site had a Vishweshwar temple devoted to Hindu deity Shiva and was built by Todar Mal in conjunction with Narayana Bhatta. The temple contributed to the establishment of Banaras as a vaunted center of Brahminic assembly, drawing scholars across the subcontinent.