LI Network
Published on: January 31, 2024 at 16:22 IST
The Allahabad High Court has issued a notice to the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee (Muslim side) and requested their response to a plea filed by the Hindu side seeking an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the wuzukhana region within the Gyanvapi Mosque premises in Varanasi.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal issued the notice on Wednesday based on a revision plea filed by Rakhi Singh, the first plaintiff in the Shringar Gauri suit of 2022, which is currently being heard by a Varanasi court.
Rakhi Singh urged the High Court to direct the ASI to survey the Gyanvapi mosque’s ablution pond (wuzukhana), excluding the area where a Shivalinga is believed to be located, to determine the religious nature of the Gyanvapi compound.
Her revision plea challenges a decision from a Varanasi district court in October 2023 that refused to direct the ASI to conduct such a survey, citing a Supreme Court directive to protect the area where the ‘Shiva Linga’ was discovered.
Rakhi Singh argued that the survey of the wuzukhana area would benefit both Hindu and Muslim parties involved in the 2022 suit, aiding the court in arriving at a fair decision.
She asserted that the district judge made an error in the October 2023 order by claiming that the July 21, 2023 order intentionally excluded the wuzukhana area from a survey.
Rakhi Singh emphasized that the application leading to the October 2023 order did not include a request for a survey of this protected area.
It’s worth noting that the ASI has previously conducted a comprehensive scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex, submitting a report asserting the existence of an ancient Hindu Temple at the site before the construction of the Gyanvapi Mosque.
Also Read: What is Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute?
