The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began working on a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises in Varanasi on Friday to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

The ASI team arrived at the mosque complex early morning and started the survey at around 7 am, ASI sources said.

Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, advocate representing the Hindu side on the Gyanvapi case, informed that representatives of the Hindu petitioners will also be participating in the survey.

“All people (including ASI officials) have reached there. The survey has started. We are also going inside,” he said.

Meanwhile, security around the mosque premises has been strengthened.

The members of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee have boycotted the survey. The representatives of the committee who were to accompany the ASI team for the survey abstained from doing so.

The survey began after the Allahabad High Court on Thursday upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that the proposed step is “necessary in the interest of justice” and will benefit both sides.

The order came after the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee, representing the Muslim side to the legal dispute, moved the Supreme Court against the Varansi district court order.
The mosque stands next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

With inputs from agencies