The Supreme Court today agreed to urgently list a petition challenging an Allahabad High Court direction to determine the age of the “shivling” on May 19.
Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi appeared for the Gyanawapi Masjid Management Committee, and sought an early hearing of the petition before Chief Justices DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha, and JB Pardiwala.
On May 12, the Allahabad High Court ordered to determine the age of the structure, Shivlinga, at the Gyanwapi Masjid with the use of modern technology.
Earlier in May, the High Court set aside October 14, 2022 order of the Varanasi District Court by declining a plea for scientific investigation, including carbon dating, of the disputed material.
The High Court ordered the authorities to ensure that no harm was done to the structure claimed to be a ‘shivling’. The mosque authorities say it is part of a fountain in the ‘wazu khana’, where ablutions are performed before namaz.
In October last year, District Judge A.K Vishvesha dismissed the application by the Hindu plaintiffs for carbon dating of the disputed structure (shivling) which was allegedly found during a court-ordered video survey of the mosque premises.
The District Judge noted that conducting any kind of scientific investigation on the structure, like carbon-dating or ground penetrating radar, may cause harm to it, which would be in violation of the Supreme Court’s May 17 order to protect the structure.
In May 2022, the top court ordered the securing of the ‘shivling’ area while Muslims would be able to offer namaaz in the mosque.
