The Hindu side has moved Varanasi district court seeking an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of cellars within the premises of the disputed structure, which have not yet been accessed by the ASI in its earlier survey.

The petition has submitted that cellars N1 to N5 in the northern part of the premises and cellars S1 to S3 in the southern part are yet to be surveyed. It is also submitted that the entrances to cellars N1 and S1 are completely obstructed, making them inaccessible.

“Entrance is blocked with bricks and stone and it is pertinent to mention that load of the structure is not lying on the blocked entrance. And there will be no damage to the structure in question if ASI expert will remove it by the expertise they have,” the application stated.

The application has said that it is imperative to survey these cellars to establish the religious nature of the Gyanvapi premises since both Muslim and Hindu parties have made conflicting claims on such aspects.

Earlier, a district court in Varanasi on January 31 allowed Hindus to offer prayers in Vyas Ka Tehkhana of the disputed structure.