The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Saturday resumed its scientific survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque to determine if the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.
Rajesh Mishra, a government adviser who accompanied the ASI investigative team on a day-long exercise the previous day, said on Saturday that the team started working in the morning and would finish at 5 pm.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the Allahabad Supreme Court's order on ASI's investigation into the Gyanvapi Mosque, a move Muslims said would "reopen past wounds".
However, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra urged ASI to refrain from any invasive act during the survey.
This ruled out excavation, which the Varanasi court said could be carried out if necessary.
The decision was approved by the Supreme Court on Friday, just hours after the ASI team resumed the detailed scientific investigation ordered by the Varanasi District Court on July 21.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee has appealed the district court's order to the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed his petition on Thursday. The Muslim group immediately appealed to the Supreme Court.