The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Tuesday sought three-week extension from the district court in Varanasi for submitting the scientific survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.
The court had initially set a deadline of November 28 for the submission.
On Tuesday, the ASI cited the need for additional time to assimilate information from various experts, with its application stating that experts are working on diverse data collected by archaeologists, surveyors, and other professionals.
Assimilation of information generated by different experts and different tools is a difficult and slow process and it will take some more time to complete the report for final submission.
The court is scheduled to hear the application for the time extension on November 29.
The ASI has been conducting a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, excluding the sealed section, since August 4, following court orders.
A plea had sought a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.
