The Allahabad High Court has dismissed the Anjuman Mosque Committee’s petition challenging the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Muslim side's plea that the survey may damage the structure has been dismissed by the high court, paving the way for the conduct of the scientific survey.

In its July 21 order, Varanasi district judge AK Vishvesha has directed the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi complex on an application moved by four Hindu women on May 16, 2023. Its purpose was to undertake a scientific survey of the mosque for ascertaining whether the “present structure” was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”.

The Anjuman Mosque Committee had challenged the Varanasi District Court’s order in Allahabad Allahabad High Court.