New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. However, it refused the Muslim side’s demand to keep the report of that survey in a sealed cover. The SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, said: “Having regard to nature and ambit of the court-appointed commissioner and safeguards placed by the HC, we’re unable to interfere with the order.”
The top court said non-invasive techniques will be used during the survey of the 17th-century mosque.
Earlier, the SC refused to stay the HC order allowing the survey that is being conducted to determine if the historic mosque was built upon a pre-existing temple.
A bench comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked the ASI not to take recourse to any invasive act during the survey. It took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ASI and the Uttar Pradesh government, that no excavation will be carried out during the survey nor any destruction caused to the structure. Mehta took the court through how the ASI survey will be conducted.
