The “scientific survey,” which included carbon dating, of the “Shivling” allegedly discovered at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic inspection last year was postponed by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The Supreme Court ruled that “the implementation of the directions in the order shall stand deferred until the next date” because the ramifications of the Allahabad High Court ruling that permitted carbon dating of the “Shivling” need greater examination. On May 16 of last year, a court-ordered assessment of the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple revealed a structure that was claimed to be a “Shivling” by the Hindu side and a “fountain” by the Muslim side.
The Varanasi District Judge's judgment rejecting the request for a scientific assessment and carbon dating of the “Shivling” on October 14, 2022, was overturned by the High Court on May 12th.
The High Court instructed the Varanasi District Judge to handle the Hindu worshipers' request for a scientific investigation of the “Shivling” in line with the law.
Laxmi Devi and three other petitioners had filed an appeal against the lower court's decision to the High Court.
