Allahabad HC says Gyanvapi issue of national importance, seeks reply of DG ASI on AIM petition

PRAYAGRAJ: Reiterating that the Gyanvapi issue is of national importance, the Allahabad high court on Wednesday directed the director general of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to comply with its earlier order and file a reply (counter affidavit) in response to the petition filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masajid, the Gyanvapi mosque management committee of Varanasi, by the next date of hearing on October 18.
Hearing a petition filed by AIM, Justice Prakash Padia observed, “Since the matter is of national importance and fact that the suit is pending before the trial court at Varanasi since 1991, this court hopes and trust that the director general, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi will comply with the order dated September 12, 2022 in its letter and spirit on or before the next date fixed in the matter, i.e., October 18, 2022.”
Earlier, by an order dated September 12, this court had directed the ASI director general to file his personal affidavit in response to the present petition as the present counter affidavit filed by ASI was ‘very sketchy’ and the ‘matter was of national importance’.
The court had also made it clear in its September 12 order that in case the counter affidavit is not filed on the next date of September 28, 2022, the ASI director general shall remain present before this court.
On Wednesday, the counsel representing the ASI informed the court that the ASI director general was unfit and not in a position to file his personal affidavit. Furthermore, he has been advised bed rest till October 14 by the doctor due to serious health problems.
Keeping in view this submission, the court exempted the personal appearance of the DG for today (Wednesday). AIM and others have moved this petition challenging the maintainability of an original suit filed in the Varanasi district court in 1991.
The original suit sought the restoration of the ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple at the site where the Gyanvapi mosque currently stands. The petitioners claimed in the suit that the mosque was a part of the temple.
The high court had on September 9, 2021, stayed the Varanasi court’s order dated April 8, 2021, by which a direction was issued to the ASI to conduct a physical survey at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex. Today (on Wednesday), the high court extended this interim stay till October 31.