The Muslim side on Wednesday once again reached district court to stop the ASI survey at Gyanvapi mosque as it filed an application in this regard. The court has agreed to hear the application on August 17.
The Muslim side has cited many flaws in the survey. The main fact is that the survey is being done without paying any fees. This is against the norm. The advocate of Muslim side urges the court that survey should be stopped till the following of the rules. The Hindu side advocates have sought time to written reply and pleaded not to stop the ASI Survey.
However, the court has not stayed the survey. The Hindu side has been given time till August 17 to file its reply. Till then, the survey will continue.
On plea of the Muslim Side, the District judge has given instructions that there will be no reporting from survey spot. ASI people will not give any information to the media. Such topics should not be discussed even on social media, because there is a possibility of breach of peace. There will be restriction for media persons ahead of barricading.
Court said, “Survey is secret, wait for some time”. The judge said, “ASI’s survey is a secret report. It can only be filed in the court. Will not go in the public domain until the ASI files the report on the court. So till then, avoid the ongoing action of ASI with reference to these evidences. Avoid false or inaccurate reporting. Refrain from covering it.
The court further asserted, “The evidences which are being found or not being found need not to be given importance to this, have patient. Evidence should not leak from any side.
Meanwhile, the administration appealed to the Hindu side and Muslim side not to issue any statements, while separate meetings were held with the people of the Hindu and Muslim sides regarding the survey in the Varanasi Commissionerate. Police Commissioner Ashok Mutha Jain and Commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma, District Magistrate S Rajalingam asked both the parties to cooperate and not make statements in the media. Also appealed to avoid rumours and give thoughtful statements on social media.
Muslim Side has mentioned few points in their application filed in district Court, as below:
• Court has not issued any writ to ASI for survey of the entire premises except Vajusthal till now after the order.
• The respondent was also not given any written or verbal notice of the survey.
• The plaintiffs also did not deposit the expenditure for the survey of ASI as advance amount. While it was mandatory after making the demand. Violating the rules, the survey is going on till August 8.
• No order was given to the litigants to plead for the ASI.
• An appeal from the Muslim side to ban media coverage in the Gyanvapi survey is also included in this.
This also be noted, the Hindu side litigant Rakhi Singh filed an application and asked to prevent the Muslim side from entering the mosque. It said that there is a possibility of erasing historical and religious evidence on the people of the Muslim community going inside. The District Judge will hear the objection on behalf of the Arrangement Committee.
On the other hand, the IB team had also reached Gyanvapi. The team, which arrived on the instructions of the Lucknow headquarters, prepared a report on the security arrangements at Gyanvapi. Received information from the Security Unit. Took information about both the parties involved in the survey. After that she returned.
Wednesday was the 7th day of the ASI survey. The ASI team surveyed Gumbad and Vyas basement for the third consecutive day. Along with preparing a carbon copy of the carving of the dome, the team is also measuring the three domes. Along with this, the ASI team will take forward the process of photography, videography, mapping and scanning based on modern technology.
ASI called the expert team of IIT Kanpur for survey with GPR i.e. Ground Penetrating Radar Machine. The team reached Varanasi on Tuesday. The team did marking with GRP machine from 10 am on Wednesday. In the first phase, the machine is to be installed at more than 10 places. After the results are out, the places to install the machines will be finalised.
The Muslim side was angry with media reporting here, on Tuesday, as the Anjuman Arrangement Masjid Committee has filed a petition against media reporting. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has said in the petition that the ASI survey is being done on the orders of the court and therefore, no statement should be made regarding the survey by the survey team or any of its officials.