Gyanvapi Mosque Case: Varanasi District Court To Pass Order On Carbon Dating Of 'Shivling' Today

In May, the Hindu petitioners had claimed that they have found a ‘Shivling’ inside the mosque complex close to ‘wazoo khana’ which was disputed by the Muslim side saying that it was a fountain. 

Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi.

Source : PTI File Photo

New Delhi: The Varanasi District Court will today hear the matter pertaining to the Gyanvapi Mosque-Gauri Shringar case, sources told ABP News. As per the sources, the court is also expected to take decision regarding the carbon-dating of the structure found inside the complex which has been claimed as ‘Shivling’ by the Hindu side.

During the last hearing in the case that took place on September 29, advocate Vishnu Jain, representing the Hindu side, had said that the Hindu side demanded a scientific investigation into the claimed Shivling inside the complex by the Archaeological Survey of India. 

The Hindu side had also demanded carbon dating of Argha and its surrounding area. 

The court had reserved its order in the matter and it is expected that it will pronounce its decision during today’s hearing.

In May, the Hindu petitioners had claimed that they have found a ‘Shivling’ inside the mosque complex close to ‘wazoo khana’ — a small reservoir used by Muslims to perform ritual ablution before offering namaz — during a court-mandated videography survey of the mosque’s premises. 

The claim was disputed by the Muslim side saying that the object found was a fountain. 

After this, lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain on behalf of Hindu plaintiffs had submitted an application on September 22 seeking carbon dating and scientific probe into the structure. Meanwhile the Muslim side had lodged an objection arguing that the Supreme Court  had asked the Varanasi District Magistrate to keep the structure safe, and added that In such a situation, getting it examined cannot be justified.

On September 29, the Allahabad High Court had extended the stay till October 31 on a Varanasi court order directing the ASI to survey at the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex and further proceedings in the case. 

Justice Prakash Padia, after hearing the parties concerned, fixed October 18 as the next date of hearing in the case.

On August 30, the high court had extended the interim stay till September 30 on the Varanasi court's order dated April 8, 2021.