Varanasi: In the ongoing Gyanvapi case, the Varanasi district court has provided the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) with an extra week to present the scientific survey report for the Gyanvapi mosque complex. This extension comes in response to ASI’s request for additional time to complete and submit the comprehensive survey report. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 18.

In the previous hearing on November 30, the court had initially given ASI a 10-day timeframe to submit the report, setting November 17 as the original deadline. Subsequently, an extension until November 28 was granted. Despite the 100-day survey concluding nearly a month ago, ASI sought further time to compile its findings.

On November 18, ASI requested an additional 15 days, and the court allowed a 10-day extension. The survey, initiated on July 21 by a Varanasi court following a petition from four women seeking permission to pray at the Shringar Gauri Shrine, took place over 100 days, excluding the Wuzukhana area sealed under Supreme Court orders.

ASI informed the court on November 2 that the survey was “completed,” but extra time was needed to compile the report, including details about the equipment used. Consequently, the court extended the deadline to November 17 for the submission of the comprehensive document. The Allahabad High Court had granted permission in August of the same year for ASI to conduct the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi.