Gyanvapi Mosque Case: SC puts scientific survey of ‘Shivling’ on hold

New Delhi: Supreme Court has deferred the scientific survey of the said ‘Shivling’ found in the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The apex court noted that the order by the Allahabad High Court requires closer scrutiny and postponed the survey till the next date. Allahabad HC allowed the carbon dating of the structure, but SC has put a hold on the order.

Supreme Court says since the implications of the Allahabad High Court order that allowed carbon dating of the “Shivling” merit closer scrutiny, the implementation of the directions concerned in the order shall stand deferred till the next date.

— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2023

Allahabad HC ruled in favour of the Hindu party allowing the survey of the structure, which was challenged by the Muslim party in the apex court. Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi listed the matter before the bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha.

Senior Advocate Ahmadi submitted that Allahabad HC passed the order while an appeal filed by the Committee of Management of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid challenging the Varanasi court order on the maintainability issue was still pending. SG Tushar Mehta, appearing for UP, and the Central governments agreed as the bench stated that the matter needs a careful examination.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted a report before the High Court stating that a direct dating of the structure is not possible but proxy dating and radiocarbon dating of the substance binding structure can be done. The High Court passed the order to allow the scientific survey without any damage to the structure.

The structure, since it was found in the videotape submitted to the civil court, has created a political and religious discourse. The Hindu party claims it to be a ‘Shivling’, the Muslim party calls it a fountain.