Gyanvapi Dispute: Varanasi Court to Decide on ASI Report Access Today - 2024-01-05

In a significant development, the Varanasi District Court will hold a hearing today at 2:30 pm to decide on whether the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex should be made accessible to the plaintiffs and advocates. The key question before the court is whether to open the sealed report or keep it confidential. The Hindu side has appealed to the court not to submit the report in a sealed envelope, arguing that it is not an in-camera proceeding and should be made public. The Muslim side, on the other hand, has requested the court to keep the report confidential and conduct the proceedings in secret, considering the sensitive nature of the matter. The ASI team conducted a 92-day survey of the Gyanvapi complex, and the report has been submitted to the court in a sealed envelope. The Hindu side claims that the survey report is voluminous and should be made available to them. They have also cited a Supreme Court order that states the report should not be filed in a sealed envelope. The court's decision today will determine the course of the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute, which has been a contentious issue between Hindu and Muslim parties. The presence of a 'Shivling' in the mosque premises has been a central point of contention, with the Hindu side claiming it is a sacred symbol and the Muslim side disputing its religious significance. The outcome of today's hearing will be closely watched as it has the potential to further escalate the dispute or pave the way for a resolution.