Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 6 (UNI) The Varanasi District Court on Saturday deferred hearing till January 24 on making public the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on Gyanvapi mosque complex.
The Court granted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) three weeks time to submit its report in the original suit in the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Fast Track Court, Varanasi in compliance with the order of the Allahabad High Court.
Counsel of the Hindu side Madan Mohan Yadav said that on the application filed by the ASI to defer or adjourn proceedings related to the opening and disclosure of the survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque complex so that it could comply with the orders of the HC, District Judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha has fixed January 24 as the next date of hearing.
The court has stated, “In my opinion that instead of disposing of different applications immediately, it would be justifiable if it is done after the ASI submits its report in the court of Civil Judge Senior Division/Fast Track Court, Varanasi. List the matter on January 24.”
It may be noted that on Janauray 3, the ASI in its application moved in the District Court had stated that the court vide its order dated July 21, 2023 had directed the agency to conduct survey of the premises at settlement plot number 9130 in accordance with the direction contained in the judgement itself.
It said, “In compliance with the aforesaid order, the ASI conducted scientific investigation and survey work and prepared the detailed report and submitted it to the court on December 18, 2023 in a sealed cover.”
The application stated that the ASI was also directed by the High Court to submit the report on the scientific investigation and survey work in the Civil Court, Senior Division, Fast Track Court, Varanasi in original suit number 610 of 1991 (in writ no. 3562 of 2021 and 3844 of 2021 filed under Article 227).
The ASI had said that in compliance of the order of High Court the survey report submitted earlier by the agency in the above suit number 18 of 2022 in the sealed cover is of vital importance.
“If the survey report is unsealed and disclosed in public before the submission of the copy of the said survey report in the original suit number 610 of 1991 in the suit of Ancient Idol of Swayambhu Lord Vishweshwar versus Anjuman Intezamia Masjid and others in the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Fast Track Court, Varanasi in compliance of the order of High Court, there is the more chance of spread rumour and misrepresentation in public, which may affect the work of the ASI,” the application stated.
The agency had pleaded that in compliance with the order of the HC, the ASI was working for submission of the copy of the survey report which may take some more time to prepare for the submission in the suit number 610 of 1991. “That, for the smooth compliance of the said survey report before the submission the copy of said survey report in the suit of Ancient Idol of Swayambhu Lord Vishweshwar versus Anjuman Intezamia Masjid and others in the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Fast Track Court, Varanasi,” it pleaded.
It stated, “That in above mention circumstance it is necessary that the court may differ or adjourned the proceedings related to the opening and disclosure of the said survey report submitted in the above mentioned suit number 18 of 2022 for four weeks for the proper submission of the copy of the survey report in the original suit number 610 of 1991 in compliance of the order of the High Court without any disturbance.”
The ASI had prayed, “It is therefore respectfully prayed that for the interest of justice the court may please differ or adjourned the proceeding with regard to the opening and disclosure of the sealed survey report submitted by ASI for four weeks, so that the agency complied with the order of the High Court in writ number 3562 of 2021 and 3844 of 2021 and submit the copy of the said survey report in the original suit in the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Fast Track Court, Varanasi.”
