The Varanasi court on Friday deferred its verdict on a plea by five women petitioners seeking scientific investigation of the structure inside the Gyanvapi mosque that the Hindu side has claimed to be a 'Shivling' to October 11, the Bar and Bench reported. The court stated that the verdict would be pronounced on Tuesday at 2 pm.
The court was supposed to pronounce its verdict on the plea filed by the Hindu side demanding carbon dating of the structure they claimed to be a Shivling. On Friday, the Hindu side amended their demand from seeking 'carbon dating' of the 'Shivling' to calling for a 'scientific probe'.
Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds.
"The court asked us to clarify on two points -- whether the structure found inside the mosque is a part of this suit property or not? Secondly, can the court issue a commission for scientific inquiry? We have submitted our reply," Advocate Vishnu Jain, representing the Hindu side in the case, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
"We said that it is part of our suit property and by virtue of Order 26 Rule 10A of CPC (Civil Procedure Code), the court has the power to direct scientific investigation. The Muslim side has sought some time to reply. The matter will now be heard on October 11," he further said.
On September 22, the Hindu side demanded carbon dating of the Shivling-like structure inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The court had reserved the order in the case on September 29 after hearing both sides' arguments.
Hindu petitioners had during a court-mandated videography survey of the mosque premises claimed that a 'Shivling' was found close to the 'wazookhana', a small reservoir used by Muslim devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering the namaz.
The Muslim side had filed an objection in the court against Hindu plaintiffs' plea for the carbon dating of the 'Shivling', claiming the structure to be a fountain.