ASI survey report to be made public; both sides to get access: Court

The ASI was carrying out the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) report on Gyanvapi Mosque will be made public and its access will be provided to both Hindu and Muslim sides, rules Varanasi court on January 24.

The ASI on December 19 submitted its report on a scientific survey it had undertaken at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in a Varanasi court that had ordered it to ascertain whether the mosque was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”.

The ASI had undertaken the survey at the directive of the Varanasi court, tasked with determining whether the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

The agency, in its plea, highlighted the high court's order, emphasizing that the survey report must be presented in the 1991 suit.

The ASI expressed concerns about the potential repercussions of disclosing the report's content to the public, fearing the spread of rumours and misrepresentation that could adversely impact their ongoing work.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, was quoted by ANI as saying, “Today, the court heard both sides and a consensus was reached that the hard copy of the ASI’s report will be provided to both sides…The ASI objected to providing the report via email. So, both sides agreed to get the hard copy of the report.”