Gyanvapi wazukhana survey: Allahabad HC asks petitioner to file affidavit
Hindustan TimesIn a matter seeking ASI survey of ‘wazukhana’ area except the Shivalinga inside the Gyanvapi mosque, the Allahabad high court on Tuesday directed the petitioner’s counsel to file a 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. The revision has been filed challenging the Varanasi district judge’s order dated October 21, 2023 refusing to direct the Archeological Survey of India to undertake a survey of the ‘wazukhana’ area except the Shivalinga inside the Gyanvapi mosque. It has also been contended that the Varanasi district judge, in his October 21, 2023 order, failed to exercise the jurisdiction vested in it by law to direct for the survey of the ‘wazukhana’ area. It was also argued that it is possible to survey the ‘wazukhana’ area except the Shivalinga using non-invasive methods as directed by the Supreme Court.