Allahabad: The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee which takes care of 22 mosques including the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi has moved to the Allahabad High Court challenging the District Court’s order passed on July 21 for the ASI survey of the mosque premises.
The petition was filed a day after the Supreme Court on Monday directed that Varanasi Court’s order should not be enforced till 5PM on July 26 so as to allow some breathing time to the Masjid Committee to approach the High Court.
On July 24 the apex court passed an order while requesting the High Court Chief Justice to allow a hearing on Masjid’s plea before its interim order expires on July 26. The bench comprised of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Mishra.
Earlier on Monday, a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started a scientific survey of Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque even as the mosque management committee filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Varanasi district court’s order allowing the inspection.
The survey shall not alter the structure of the mosque confirmed the Supreme Court. “Not a brick has been removed nor is it planned”, stated the highest court. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta told the court that the petitioners need not worry about any excavation move at this point and ensured that ASI will only conduct measurement, photography, and radar studies