ASI survey of wuzukhana:HC to hear plea on Oct 1

Prayagraj: In a matter seeking Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the wuzukhana (ablution pond), except for the part where a purported shivling was found, inside the Gyanvapi mosque, the Allahabad high court on Tuesday fixed Oct 1 for the next hearing and directed the petitioner's counsel to file supplementary affidavit bringing on record the application moved by one of the plaintiffs Laxmi Devi earlier for the scientific investigation/survey of the protected area, which was decided by the apex court in 2023 and the matter is pending before the apex court.
The order was passed by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, while hearing a civil revision filed by Rakhi Singh, one of plaintiffs in Shringar Gauri worshipping suit, before Varanasi court. The revision has been filed challenging the Varanasi district judge's order, dated October 21, 2023, refusing to direct the ASI to undertake a survey of the wuzukhana area inside the Gyanvapi mosque.
In her revision, Rakhi has pleaded that the survey of the wuzukhana area is necessary in the interest of justice.
It may be noted that the ASI has already conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi and has also submitted its report to the Varanasi DJ. The ASI had conducted a survey in accordance with the July 21 2023, order of the Varanasi district judge to determine if the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.