Key Points
The Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered authorities to determine the age of the structure claimed to be a shivling in the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi using modern technology...
It set aside a 14 October order of the Varanasi District Court that rejected a plea for scientific investigation, including carbon dating, of the structure found in May 2022 during a court-mandated survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple...
The high court ordered authorities to ensure no harm is done to the structure, the Hindu petitioners claim is a shivling..
The high court directed the Varanasi district judge to proceed, in accordance with the law, on the application by the Hindu worshippers for conducting a scientific probe of the shivling, paving the way for determining the age of the structure...
On November 4, 2022, the high court had sought the response of ASI in the matter and directed the ASI Director General to submit his opinion whether investigation of the said structure, if examined through carbon-dating, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), excavation and other methods adopted to determine its age, nature and other relevant information, is likely to damage it or a safe evaluation about its age can be done...
