The Supreme Court on Monday suspended the Gyanvapi survey, being conducted by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), at Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi for two days. The Apex Court ordered ASI to not conduct the detailed scientific survey and directed the Muslim petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court for remedies. 

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said the court gave time till 26th of this month to the Gyanvapi mosque management committee to challenge the ASI order of the Varanasi court before the High Court.

A scientific investigation began Monday to determine if the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi was built upon a temple. A 30-member team of ASI began the survey in the morning. The development came after Muslim petitioners from the mosque management committee filed a plea, seeking a stay on a Varanasi district court's order for an ASI survey of the mosque.

Earlier, in the morning the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) begun a study of the Gyanvapi mosque after teams of 30 officials arrived on Monday morning. It took place at the same time as a hearing before the Supreme Court on a petition filed by the mosque management committee contesting the Allahabad High Court's decision in the matter, started. 

A Varanasi had accepted the plea of the Hindu petitioners in the Gyanvapi- Shringar Gauri case on Monday for the scientific survey of the premises of Gyanvapi mosque. District judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesh directed the Archaeological Survey of India to explore the possibilities of the scientific survey of the premises barring the WazuKhana area which is used by Muslims.

The court asked ASI to make it clear how the scientific survey could be done and what will be the nature of the survey in the barricaded area so that the final decision on the plea can be taken. Court asked the ASI to submit its report by 4th August which is the next date of hearing in the case.