'Evidence' Stored In Treasury As ASI Investigates Gyanvapi Complex — Here's What We Know So Far

In light of a district judge's order issued on 14 September, over 270 stone pieces and other items discovered during the scientific study and survey of the Gyanvapi complex by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have been placed in the treasury under the supervision of the district magistrate.

These items are considered evidence in the ASI's investigation to determine whether the Gyanvapi mosque stands on the site of a Hindu temple.

The ASI is scheduled to submit its report on 17 November.

District Magistrate S Rajalingam stated, "a list of articles recovered by ASI from debris on the working floor and southern cellar for scientific study was prepared, and the articles were deposited in the treasury on Monday. Whether these articles are considered by the court as evidence or not remains to be seen", as reported by The Times Of India.

Standing government counsel Amit Srivastava revealed that on 14 September, District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha had ordered that all signs and evidence found during the ASI's scientific study and survey of the Gyanvapi complex would be placed in the custody of the district magistrate or an officer nominated by him.

The custodian officer is responsible for safeguarding these articles and presenting them before the court when required.

This order was issued in response to applications submitted by Rakhi Singh, the main plaintiff in the original Shringar Gauri case, who had requested the preservation of signs and evidence related to the Hindu temple.

Similar applications were also filed by the advocates of four other women plaintiffs in the original Shringar Gauri suit, including Vishnu Jain.

The district judge's order for an ASI survey was initially issued on 21 July, following a plea from the four women plaintiffs in the Shringar Gauri suit (No. 18/2022).

The ASI began its scientific study of the Gyanvapi mosque on 24 July, as instructed.

However, the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid, the management committee of the Gyanvapi Mosque, contested the survey by filing a revision before the Allahabad High Court.

In response, the ASI's survey of the Gyanvapi mosque was temporarily halted on 24 July.

The High Court subsequently dismissed the objection raised by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid on 3 August.

The organisation then sought relief from the Supreme Court, which, after declining to stay the High Court's order, allowed the ASI to resume the survey on 4 August.

As the ASI's survey could not be completed by 4 August, it sought extensions on three occasions: on 5 August, 8 September, and 5 October.

Following the conclusion of the field study at the Gyanvapi complex on 2 November, the ASI requested an additional 15 days to prepare its comprehensive report.