ASI seeks 15 more days to finish survey of Gyanvapi mosque
The survey began after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled such a survey was necessary in the interest of justice
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) wants a 15-day extension to file its report on the 'scientific survey' it has done at Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque complex to know if it was built over a Hindu temple.
The survey, ordered by a Varanasi court, was carried out over 100 days. The Varanasi court is scheduled to hear the plea for a second extension at 2 pm.
The ASI, which has already got one extension, has said it needed more time to compile the findings, media reports said.
The imposing 17th century mosque is located next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The survey began after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that such a survey was "necessary in the interest of justice".
Earlier, the mosque management objected to ASI digging in the basement as well as other places in the complex, saying this could harm the mosque's western wall.
The mosque committee also moved the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court order but the top court refused to stay the survey.
