Hearing on plea seeking survey of wuzukhana in Gyanvapi mosque adjourned; next date Oct 7

Prayagraj, Sep 23 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing in a matter seeking a survey by the ASI of the 'wazukhana' area except for the Shivling inside the Gyanvapi mosque at Varanasi and fixed October 7 for the next hearing.

When the case was taken up on Tuesday, the court was informed that the counsel for the Muslim side was unwell and could not attend the hearing. Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing.

The petition has been filed challenging an order of a Varanasi judge passed on October 21, 2023 which refused to direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to survey the wuzukhana (ablution) area except for the structure which the Hindu side calls a Shivling and the Muslims describe as a fountain inside the Gyanvapi mosque located adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

A civil revision petition has been filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs, before the Varanasi court challenging the district judge's order refusing to direct the ASI to undertake a survey of the wazukhana area except for the Shivling inside the Gyanvapi mosque.

In her revision petition, Singh pleaded that the survey of the wuzukhana area is necessary in the interest of justice. It shall benefit the plaintiffs and defendants alike and help the court arrive at a just decision in the suit, she said.

The revision petition has further said that the ASI survey of the wuzukhana area is necessary so that the religious character of the entire property could be determined.

The ASI has already conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex and has also submitted its report to the Varanasi district judge.

The ASI had conducted the survey in accordance with the July 21 2023 order of the Varanasi district judge to determine if the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. PTI COR RAJ KSS KSS