Allahabad HC extends stay on survey at site in Gyanvapi case till Oct 31

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday extended the stay till October 31 on a Varanasi court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey at the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex and further proceedings in this case.

Justice Prakash Padia, after hearing the parties concerned, fixed October 18 as the next date of hearing in the case.

On August 30, the high court had extended the interim stay till September 30 on the Varanasi court's order dated April 8, 2021.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, the Gyanvapi mosque management committee of Varanasi, had filed a petition challenging the maintainability of an original suit filed in 1991 in the Varanasi district court.

The original suit sought 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 is a part of the temple.

On September 12, Justice Padia also directed the director general, ASI, to file h