Gyanvapi Row: Archaeological Survey Gets Extension For Fourth Time To Submit Scientific Survey Report

The Varanasi district court on Monday (11 December) granted an extra week to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to furnish a scientific survey report for the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

District Judge A K Vishvesh allowed the ASI this extended period to finalise the survey and present its report. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for 18 December, PTI reported.

This is the fourth time ASI sought an additional time to submit the report. Earlier, on 30 November, it was granted 10 more days upon seeking a two-week time to submit the report.

On 2 November, the ASI informed the court that it had "completed" the survey but required additional time to compile the report, including details of the survey equipment used.

The court initially granted an extension until 17 November and later set a new deadline for submission by 28 November. The ASI is conducting a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises to determine if the 17th-century mosque was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple structure, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.