The Allahabad High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing in a matter seeking an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the Wazukhana (ablution pond) area, excluding the structure identified as a Shiva Linga by the Hindu side inside the Gyanvapi mosque.
The matter has now been listed for further hearing on August 6, 2025.
When the case was taken up at 2 p.m. on Friday, the counsels representing the parties informed the court that the issue is still under consideration by the Supreme Court, and the interim order passed by the apex court remains in effect.
Taking note of this submission, the court deferred the matter and fixed August 6, 2025, as the next date of hearing.
The matter pertains to a civil revision petition filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the plaintiffs, before the Varanasi district court, challenging the order dated October 21, 2023, passed by the Varanasi District Judge.
In that order, the district court had refused to direct the ASI to survey the Wazukhana area, except for the structure that the Hindu side identifies as a Shiva Linga, and which the Muslim side describes as a fountain, located within the Gyanvapi mosque complex adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The matter is being heard by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal.
It was further brought to the court’s notice that the interim order issued by the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1246 of 2020 (Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay vs. Union of India & Others) is still in force.
In that order, the apex court had directed that while fresh suits may be filed, no new suits shall be registered and no proceedings shall be undertaken therein until further orders.
Additionally, in pending matters, the Supreme Court had restrained all courts across the country from passing any effective interim or final orders, including orders directing surveys.
Given this continuing restraint by the apex court, the High Court adjourned the hearing and scheduled the matter for August 6, 2025.
