The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to file reply till January 18, 2023 on the petition filed by Laxmi Devi and others challenging the Varanasi district judge’s order by which the lower court had refused the demand of carbon dating of a ‘Shivling’ claimed to have been found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex.
Senior advocate SFA Naqvi, on behalf of the mosque, objected that in view of the status quo order issued by the Supreme Court, the petition filed demanding a scientific survey is not maintainable. Apprehensions have been expressed that the alleged Shivling may be damaged by carbon dating.
The revision petition has sought appropriate survey or excavation to find out the nature of construction beneath the ‘Shivling’ discovered on May 16, 2022.
On October 14, Varanasi District Judge A K Vishvesh had turned down the plea seeking scientific investigation and carbon dating of the ‘Shivling’, citing Supreme Court directives for its safe keeping so that no tampering can be done.
