ASI gets four weeks more for Gyanvapi survey

A Varanasi court on Thursday granted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) another four weeks to complete the scientific investigation of the Gyanvapi mosque and submit its report. While granting the third extension, the court said it will not allow the ASI any more time beyond November 6.

The survey is being conducted to ascertain whether the mosque, adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, was built on a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

The court of district judge had last granted the ASI a four-week extension on September 8 even though it had asked for eight weeks more. With that deadline expiring on Friday, ASI had moved an application on Wednesday, asking for four more weeks to complete the survey work of the mosque.


The central agency reasoned that it had found a lot of debris, loose soil and building materials dumped on floors in cellars as well as around the structure which covered the original features of the structure. It said that since the court directed it to conduct a survey beneath the ground of all cellars, it was necessary that all the debris be removed first without causing any damage to the standing structure. It said intermittent rains had also affected the use of scientific instruments in the survey. The mosque committee had opposed granting the extension.