NEW DELHI: The Varanasi court on Friday granted eight more weeks to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete its scientific survey of Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi.

The ASI was initially given four weeks to complete its survey and submit a report.

According to that timeline, the deadline was September 2.The lawyers representing the Hindu litigants had said the ASI "should not submit the final report yet as the survey is incomplete".The scientific survey of the complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, excluding ‘wuzukhana’, began on August 4, following the Allahabad high court's order, which allowed the ASI to conduct the survey to determine if the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu templeOn August 3, the HC had dismissed the plea filed by the Muslim side, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, challenging the Varanasi court order allowing the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises.The Supreme Court had last month refused to stop the ASI from conducting its “scientific investigation” of the Gyanvapi premises in Varanasi.