LI Network
Published on: 19 May 2023 at 16:32 IST
On Friday, the Supreme Court decided to postpone the scientific survey aimed at determining the age of a purported ‘Shivling’ discovered at the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. The court emphasized the need for caution and careful consideration in this matter.
The Supreme Court was addressing a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order from May 12, which called for a scientific survey, including carbon dating, to establish the age of the structure.
Considering the significant implications of the challenged order, the bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stated that the implementation of the specified directions in the order would be deferred until the next hearing.
In addition to deferring the scientific survey, the bench of the Supreme Court also issued notices to the Central government, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Hindu petitioners in response to the plea filed by the mosque panel. The plea sought to challenge the Allahabad High Court’s order for the scientific survey and carbon dating of the ‘Shivling’ found at the Gyanvapi mosque.
Both the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government expressed agreement with the decision to postpone the proposed scientific survey of the ‘Shivling’ for the time being.
Earlier this year, a ‘Shivling’ was discovered during a video survey conducted in the Gyanvapi temple complex, as mandated by a lower court in Varanasi. The mosque authorities have raised objections to the proposed scientific investigation, contending that the object referred to as a ‘Shivling’ is, in fact, a “fountain” used for ritual ablutions.
The mosque in question is situated adjacent to the renowned Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Alongside the Ayodhya and Mathura disputes, this mosque-temple conflict gained national attention when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) brought it to the forefront during the 1980s and 1990s.
The long-standing legal dispute surrounding the issue gained further significance following the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of a temple in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid case.
This judgment heightened the significance of similar disputes, including the one concerning the mosque located near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.