New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday halted the survey at the Gynavapi complex carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in compliance of a verdict passed by the Varanasi District Court on July 21.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud allowed the Muslim side time to approach Allahabad High Court. Therefore, the stay will continue till 5 pm on July 26. Responding to the news, DM Varanasi said they will abide by the Supreme Court’s order.

Meanwhile, Vishnu Shankar Jain who appeared for the Hindu side in the apex court said, “The Supreme Court ordered a stay on execution Varanasi court’s order regarding survey of the Mosque complex in order to allow the Anjum to challenge the same before the High Court… We will oppose this as our legal team is reaching High Court.”

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“The truth of Gyanvapi will only come out after the survey of ASI. The High Court will decide the matter unaffected by any observations of the Supreme Court, Allahabad HC will decide the matter on its own merit,” said the lawyer. 

#WATCH | On Supreme Court’s order, Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi mosque case, says “The SC has passed a stay on the execution of the order of the Varanasi court on survey of the Mosque complex to allow the Anjum to challenge the same before the… pic.twitter.com/QuxIhx5c9X

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2023

Muslim Committee Sought Stay on Varanasi court’s order 

Earlier, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, Gyanvapi mosque management committee, had filed a plea in the top court challenging the Varanasi district court’s order allowing ASI survey of the mosque complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Representing the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, Huzefa Ahmadi submitted that the survey, “as per us,” is in teeth of Supreme Court’s order.

Gyanvapi mosque management committee, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, mentions plea against the Varanasi district court’s order for an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the mosque complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple. pic.twitter.com/SoTRmuhf2t

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2023

Also Read: Gyanvapi Complex: Supreme Court halts ASI survey mid-way, stays Varanasi court’s order