Gyanvapi Masjid case: Supreme Court postpones scientific survey of ‘Shivling’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday deferred a “scientific survey”, including carbon dating, of a “Shivling” found in Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque complex during a videographic survey last year. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and KV Vishwanathan stayed the carbon dating of “Shivalinga”, saying that the implementation of the directions contained in the Allahabad High Court order would be deferred till the next date of hearing . , “Since the implications of the impugned order may be examined, the implementation of the relevant directions in the order shall be deferred till further date,” the bench said in its order.

The bench also issued notice to the Center and the Uttar Pradesh government on an appeal by the Gyanvapi Masjid Management Committee against the recent High Court order for a scientific investigation by the ASI to determine the age of the “Shivling”. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Gyanvapi Masjid Management Committee, told the bench that the carbon dating and survey would begin from Monday.

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Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh, submitted that there should be no damage to the structure which one side claims is a “Shivling” and the other a fountain.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the Hindu petitioners in the case, said that ASI experts have already informed that there will be no damage to the structure.

During the survey, a structure – claimed to be a “Shivling” by the Hindu side and a “fountain” by the Muslim side – was found in the mosque premises during a court-mandated survey of the mosque on May 16 last year. Kashi is located next to Vishwanath Temple. The High Court on May 12 set aside the order of the District Judge of Varanasi rejecting the application for scientific survey and carbon dating of “Shivling” on October 14, 2022.

The High Court directed the District Judge of Varanasi to proceed in accordance with law on the application of Hindu worshipers to conduct a scientific examination of the “Shivling”. Challenging the trial court’s order, petitioners Lakshmi Devi and three others had filed a petition in the High Court.