Court Rejects Gyanvapi Excavation Petition

A court in Varanasi dismissed a petition from the Hindu side seeking excavation at the Gyanvapi complex. The Archaeological Survey of India conducted a prior survey to ascertain if a mosque existed over a former Hindu temple structure, submitting findings in December 2023.

In a significant ruling, a court in Varanasi turned down a petition submitted by the Hindu side that called for an excavation-based survey of the entire Gyanvapi complex. The petition was dismissed by Civil Judge Senior Division, Jugal Kishore Shambhu, as per details shared by the Hindu side's lawyer, Madan Mohan Yadav.

Previously, following an order in July 2023 from the district court, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises. The survey aimed to investigate claims that the mosque was constructed over the ruins of a Hindu temple and is situated next to the revered Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The ASI concluded its survey and submitted its detailed findings to the district court in a sealed cover on December 18, 2023. This investigation stemmed from allegations by Hindu petitioners regarding the 17th-century mosque's historical origins.

(With inputs from agencies.)