NEW DELHI: In a significant development for the Gyanvapi management committee, the Supreme Court intervened on Monday, temporarily suspending a "detailed scientific survey" by the ASI until 5 pm on July 26. The survey aimed to determine whether the mosque situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi was constructed on the site of a pre-existing temple. The court emphasized the need for "some breathing time" to allow for an appeal against the district court's order.

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, comprising the bench, made it clear that their directive did not express an opinion on the merits of the case. The District Court's contested order will not be enforceable until the specified time.

The Varanasi court had previously instructed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a comprehensive survey, including excavations as required, to ascertain the mosque's historical origins.

The Supreme Court's order came at a critical juncture when a 30-member ASI team was already inside the mosque complex to conduct the survey on Monday. However, the survey activities came to an immediate halt following the apex court's intervention.

The court's rationale for granting "breathing time" to the petitioners was rooted in the fact that the District Court's order was pronounced on July 21, 2023, at 4.30 pm, while the survey was underway. This pause would allow the petitioners the opportunity to approach the High Court to pursue their remedies.

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra reiterated that their decision to halt the enforcement of the District Court's order until 5 pm on July 26, 2023, should not be construed as an expression of their opinion on the merits of the case.

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ASI Survey of Gyanvapi Mosque Complex On Hold Until July 26: SC