Varanasi. The Anjuman Intezamia Committee of Gyanvapi Mosque has filed a counter affidavit in the Allahabad High Court on the petition demanding a survey of the Wazukhana area by the ASI except the alleged Shivling inside the Gyanvapi Mosque. It has been said in this affidavit that the matter related to Wazukhana and Shivling is already pending in the Supreme Court and a stay order has been imposed that it should be protected and its security has been entrusted to the District Magistrate of Varanasi.
The affidavit said that no further action is permissible. Instead, the petitioner should approach the Supreme Court and seek clarification on its 2022 order. The affidavit further said that the Varanasi District Judge had outrightly rejected the demand for survey of the Wazukhana on October 21, 2023, as the matter is under the interim order of the Supreme Court. Recording the counter affidavit on record, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal gave two weeks’ time to the petitioner’s counsel to file a rejoinder affidavit and fixed the next hearing on September 9.
A litigant Rakhi Singh has argued in her review petition that a survey of the Wazukhana area is necessary in the interest of justice as it will help the court in reaching a decision. The lawyer of the Hindu side has argued that it is necessary to get the Wazukhana surveyed by the ASI to determine the religious character of the entire property. This survey is possible using a non-invasive method as per the Supreme Court’s instructions. It is noteworthy that the ASI has already surveyed the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi and has submitted its report to the District Judge of Varanasi.
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