The Allahabad High Court on Thursday stayed the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) survey of the Gyanvyapi Mosque in Varanasi till August 3, the date on which the court will also pronounce its final verdict on the mosque dispute.
At the end of a three-day marathon hearing on a plea filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, challenging the Varanasi District judge’s July 21 order to conduct a survey of the mosque by ASI, the HC asked the government and counsels of the petitioners from all sides why this matter had been dragged for the last two years.
This is the third time this week that the ASI survey has been stayed. The Supreme Court had stayed the survey on July 24, giving the Gyanvapi mosque management “breathing time” to approach the High Court. The HC too had stayed the same on July 26 and again on July 27.
