Plea Filed in Varanasi Court for ASI Survey of Gyanvapi Mosque’s Blocked Cellar

Last Updated on February 6, 2024 by News Desk

Issue:

A plea has been filed with the Varanasi Court asking the Archaeological examination of India (ASI) to carry out an extensive examination of the Gyanvapi Mosque’s inaccessible dungeons. According to the application, it is difficult for the ASI to finish surveying the site because of the trash and closed entrances that prevent access to certain regions.

Facts of the Case:

Plaintiff Rakhi Singh submitted the application under Section 75(e) and Order 26 Rule 10A r/w Section 151 of the CPC in the ongoing Shringar Gauri Worshipping suit of 2022. In order to ascertain the religious significance of the Gyanvapi buildings, Singh contends that a survey of these surviving vaults is essential. In particular, the entrances of cellars N1 through N5 in the north and S1 through S3 in the south are totally sealed, preventing full access.

Arguments Presented by Parties:

According to Singh, access to these dungeons is imperative, as evidenced by the ASI’s recent study on the scientific investigation of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The internal layout and size of N1 are still unclear due to blocked openings. Singh requests that the survey be carried out by the ASI without endangering the mosque’s structural integrity.

Judgement Delivered by Court:

Previously conducted by a family of priests until 1993, the District judge has allowed regular Hindu prayer in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Masjid. In accordance with this directive, the District Magistrate and government representatives visited the mosque complex and the area’s regular prayers were held. There was an assembly of devotees outside “Vyas Ji ka Tahkhana.” Notably, this ruling is being contested in the Allahabad High Court by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, that oversees the Gyanvpai mosque.

In conclusion, new developments also emphasize the intricate interactions between archaeological conservation, religious rights, and lawful determination, even as the request for an ASI survey  of the obstructed cellars within the Gyanvapi Mosque premises highlights the continuing legal and spiritual disputes surrounding the site.

Written By – Nikita Shankar @nikitaashankar