The Supreme Court on Friday deferred the “scientific survey”, including carbon dating, of a “Shivling” said to have been found at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey last year. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and KV Viswanathan put on hold the carbon dating of the “Shivling” saying that the implementation of the directions contained in the Allahabad High Court’s order shall stand deferred till the next date of hearing.
“Since the implications of the impugned order merit closet scrutiny, the implementation of the directions concerned in the order shall stand deferred till the next date,” said the bench in its order. The bench also issued notice to the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government on the appeal of the Gyanvapi mosque management committee against the High Court’s recent order for scientific investigation by ASI to determine the age of “Shivling”.
Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, told the bench that the carbon dating and the survey will commence on Monday. 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 a “Shivling” and the other calls a fountain.