Varanasi/IBNS/UNI: The Varanasi District Court, on an application, moved by the Archaeological Survey of India on Friday granted an additional 8 weeks time to the ASI to complete the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

The ASI had filed the application in the district court on September 2 seeking an additional 8 weeks time to complete its scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex.

The application to give additional time to the ASI to complete the survey was however opposed by the Muslim side.

On behalf of the Muslim side, it was submitted that two trucks of debris had been removed from the mosque complex and ASI was carrying out excavation work in the basement which may cause damage to the Gyanvapi structure.

Counsel Madan Mohan Yadav said that on behalf of the Muslim side, it was argued that it was in violation of the Supreme Court directives that no digging would be carried out in the mosque complex.

The counsel of the Hindu side Vishnu Shankar Jain said earlier the court had ordered the ASI to submit its report by September 2, but the agency sought an extension of 8 weeks and the Court accepted the application.