ASI submits Gyanvapi mosque scientific survey report; Varanasi court hearing set for 21 December

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has submitted its comprehensive report on the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises to the Varanasi Court. Following the submission, the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, overseeing the Gyanvapi Mosque, swiftly filed a petition seeking access to the report.

The Varanasi District Judge AK Vishvesha is scheduled to conduct the next hearing on 21 December. Hindu worshippers, upon the report submission, have urged the Court to make the ASI report public and have requested directions for distributing report copies to all involved parties.

This development stems from the Varanasi Court's directive to conduct a "scientific survey" on 21 July to ascertain if the mosque was built over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

After the ASI's scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi, the sealed report, exceeding 1500 pages, has been submitted to the Varanasi District Judge. The survey, prompted by a Varanasi Court order in July, aimed to determine if the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing Hindu temple structure.

During the survey, ASI discovered and deposited 250 relics, including broken sculptures, pots, and icons, under the supervision of the District Magistrate. Muslim representatives have urged the report not to be made public.