Key Points:
- “The matter in dispute pertains to have connection with our deep history,” stated the Varanasi court adding that only the ASI can now find the truth.
- On Thursday, a Varanasi court ordered the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to physically survey the disputed Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
- ASI has been asked to do the survey to find if there was a “superimposition, alteration or addition or structural overlapping with/over, any other religious structure.”
On Thursday, a Varanasi court ordered the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to physically survey the disputed Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
“The matter in dispute pertains to have connection with our deep history,” stated the Varanasi court due to which, now the ASI has to “get a comprehensive archaeological physical survey” of the temple in order to “find out as to whether the religious structure standing at present at the disputed site is a superimposition, alteration or addition or there is a structural overlapping of any kind, with or over, any religious structure,” the court said.
What Is The Dispute?
- The Gyanvapi masjid shares a boundary wall with the Kashi Vishwanath mandir.
- The petition filed by lawyer Vijay Shankar Rastogi claims that the mosque was built by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after demolishing a portion of the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to bear the cost of the survey and has given out directions for the ASI to follow.
- The Director General, ASI shall get a complete archaeological physical survey of the entire site.
- The main aim of the archaeological survey must be to find out as to whether the religious structure standing at present at the disputed site is a superimposition, alteration or addition or there is structural overlapping of any kind, with or over, any other religious structure.
- The committee shall also trace as to whether any temple belonging to the Hindu community ever existed before the mosque in question was built or superimposed or added upon it at the disputed site.
- If found so, then what exactly is the age, size, monumental and architectural design or style of the same, and also, as to which of the Hindu god or gods the same was devoted to.
- In order to execute this, the DG shall create a 5-member committee of “imminent persons” who are experts and well versed in the science of archaeology, 2 out of which should preferably belong to minority community.
- The committee shall be permitted to enter into every portion of the religious structure standing at present at the disputed site; and every artefacts shall be properly preserved.
- Prior to entering into survey work at any point of the time, the Committee shall give before hand notice to the parties or their counsels, who shall be sanctioned to remain present.
- While carrying out the survey, the committee shall ensure that the people belonging to Muslim community is not prevented to offer Namaz at the disputed site.
- If due to the survey, Namaaz isn’t possible, the committee shall— provide the persons an alternative and suitable place to offer Namaz at any other place within the boundaries of the mosque.
- The survey work shall be carried out between 09:00 A.M. to 05:00 P.M.
- The Committee shall prepare an overall documentation along with site map of the disputed site.
- Photography and videography of the entire survey proceeding shall be ensured by the committee as a record of the proceeding.
- Both the stakeholders- Hindu and Muslims, should be equally treated by the committee which is also expected be throughout aware of the sensitivity of the matter.
- Entire survey work shall be done in camouflaged manner, i.e. entire disputed site shall be camouflaged before beginning the survey and till the same is finished.
- No general public or media person shall be allowed to have access to witness the ongoing survey work.
- The DG must also appoint an Observer for the formed committee who is imminent and highly experienced.
