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A local court in Varanasi ordered ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises last year in April, however, the high court stayed the proceedings before the lower court. The stay order has been extended till September 30, 2022.
The Allahabad High Court on Monday granted two week's further time to the Director General, Archeological Survey of India, New Delhi to file his personal affidavit in the ongoing Kashi-Vishwanath-Gyanvapi case(s) hearing.
The bench of Justice Prakash Padia directed ASI DG to be present before the court on the next date fixed in the matter, i.e. September 28, 2022, if he fails to file the affidavit before that.
On August 30, the court sought ASI DG's affidavit within 10 days in the petitions pertaining to the archaeological survey of the premises of the Gynavapi mosque ordered by the local court to determine whether a Hindu temple was partially razed to build the mosque in the 17th century.
Before the Varanasi local court, the Ancient Idol of Swayambhu Lord Vishweshwar and 5 others filed a suit in 1991 seeking removal of the Gyanvapi Mosque and restoration of the land to Hindus. A survey by the ASI was ordered by the local court during the course of proceedins.
However, the Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid Varanasi knocked on the high court's doors against this order, and the high court stayed the proceedings in this suit before the local court which included ASI survey of the mosque premises.
On the last date of hearing, the High Court extended the stay on the order of the local court till September 30.
Out of total of five petitions that have been clubbed together for hearing, in three of the petitions ie. Matter Under Article 227 No.3341 of 2017, Matter Under Article 227 No.1521 of 2020, and Matter Under Article 227 No.234 of 2021, court noted on Monday that the counsel for the parties consented that they have concluded their arguments.
Now the court will hear arguments on the remaining two petitions i.e. Matter Under Article 227 No.3844 of 2021 and Matter Under Article 227 No.3562 of 2021 pertaining to the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises.
Case Title: Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid Varanasi v. Ancient Idol Of Swayambhu Lord Vishweshwar And 5 Others and connected matters
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