An application has been lodged before the Varanasi Court, centered around the conservation of discoveries made by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during its ongoing examination of the Gyanvapi Mosque compound. This plea, relying on Order 7 Rule 39 CPC, is presented by four female plaintiffs involved in the Shringar Gauri Worshipping Suit of 2022 (Suit No. 18). The legal representation is provided by advocates Hari Shankar Jain, Vishnu Shankar Jain, Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, and Sudhir Tripathi.

The applicants argue that any items uncovered by ASI could potentially serve as evidence in the ongoing lawsuit. Therefore, they are urging the court to instruct the District Magistrate to safeguard these objects and produce them in court as necessary. Additionally, they request the District Magistrate to formulate a comprehensive inventory of these findings and submit it to the court.

Citing a report submitted in May 2022 by the Advocate Commissioner, the applicants underscore the existence of several artifacts, idols, and objects linked to Hindu worship within the mosque's confines. Anticipating that the ASI's examination might unveil a range of ancient Hindu ceremonial items, they stress the value of systematically preserving these pieces to avert any deterioration.

It is noteworthy that the ASI is presently in the process of conducting a methodical survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi. This initiative follows a directive from the Varanasi District Judge in July, with the principal objective of determining whether the mosque was constructed atop a pre-existing Hindu temple structure. The survey has been underway for 23 days as of today's date.

On August 4, the Supreme Court ruled against impeding the ASI's survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, barring a specific area known as the 'wuzukhana,' where allegations of discovering a 'shiva linga' were made the previous year. The Court granted permission for the survey to proceed after receiving assurances from the ASI that there would be no excavations and no harm inflicted upon the structure.

This pronouncement emerged from addressing a petition brought forth by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, entrusted with overseeing the management of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The committee challenged the Allahabad High Court's August 3 decree permitting the ASI's survey.

Previously, on July 21, the Varanasi District Judge instructed the ASI Director to undertake a systematic survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, with the exception of a previously sealed area termed 'wuzukhana.' The aim was to ascertain whether the mosque's construction encompassed an existing Hindu temple structure. This directive was subsequently validated by the Allahabad High Court on August 3.

Subsequent to this, on August 9, the Varanasi District Judge enacted a prohibition on both electronic and print media outlets from disseminating 'unauthorized news' concerning the ongoing ASI survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque precinct. Additionally, the court directed all parties involved in the Shringar Gauri Worshipping suit of 2022 and ASI officials to abstain from issuing any statements regarding the survey to the media.