ASI wants three more months for Ayodhya excavation

The Archaeological Survey of India team carrying out excavation at the disputed site in Ayodhya on Tuesday sought three more months to complete the work and submit its final report.

The ASI has moved an application to this effect before the special/full Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. The court will hear the matter on Wednesday.

The Sunni Central Waqf Board, one of the main plaintiffs in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri masjid title suits, objected to the ASI's plea.

Board counsel Zafaryab Jilani later told reporters that he would file his objections in writing on Wednesday.

The ASI, in its application, has sought two months' time for completing excavation work and a further one month for submission of the final report.

In an additional application moved before the court, the ASI sought another 10 working days to collect and keep in safe custody the articles recovered during excavation.

The ASI has pleaded that it would prefer the period between October and December for excavation.

The court also directed ASI team leader Hari Majhi, Tojo Vikas International representative Manoj Kumar and the person in charge of the acquired land to appear before it on Wednesday.

Tojo Vikas International had earlier carried out a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey at the disputed site.

PTI