The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) got another breather from the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court today which directed the agency to complete the excavation work at the disputed site in Ayodhya by June 15 if it cannot be completed by the earlier deadline of May 10.The court has also directed the ASI to submit its progress report by June 30. The counsel for the Sunni Central Board of Wakfs, Zafaryab Zilani, had moved an application seeking court directive on how long the dig should be allowed to continue and to what depth. ‘‘The directives said the dig is to ascertain whether a temple existed at the disputed site. There wasn’t the need to go that deep in the trenches for that purpose,’’ Zilani pointed out.The two contesting parties had requested for specific direction to the ASI team to complete the excavation work till May 10. The next sitting of the court is on May 19.
