Gyanvapi controversy: Allahabad High Court asked ASI – can investigation be done without damaging Shivling?

Prayagraj. The controversy regarding carbon dating of the alleged Shivling found in the disputed premises of Gyanvapi located in Varanasi has now reached the threshold of the Allahabad High Court. On Friday, a petition filed seeking a scientific survey including its carbon dating was heard. The High Court has issued notice to all the opposition, including the state government, on the petition and sought answers. Let us inform that the order of dismissal of the application by the District Court of Varanasi has been challenged in the Allahabad High Court. The Archaeological Survey of India, Uttar Pradesh government and others have been made parties in the petition.

In the petition filed on behalf of Lakshmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas and Rekha Pathak, it has been demanded that due to scientific survey, correct information will be given about other religious constructions including Shivling found in Gyanvapi campus. It will also be known that how old are the Shivling and other idols and religious objects found there. The court has issued notices to all the six defendants and asked them to file their replies within two weeks.

The High Court has issued a notice to the Central Government, the State Government and the Anjuman Inazaniya Masjid Committee seeking their answers. Along with this, the court has also sought a response from the Archaeological Survey of India. They have been asked whether it can be investigated without damaging the Shivling? The court has also asked whether this demand of the petitioners is justified. Would this not violate any court decision? On the next hearing, the ASI has to tell whether it can be investigated without damaging the Shivling.

It is worth noting that the alleged Shivling was recovered from the Gyanvapi campus on 16 May 2022 during the commission proceedings. After which the petitioners had filed an application in the District Court, Varanasi demanding a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court dismissed the application on October 14, saying that doing so may cause damage to the construction. The Supreme Court has ordered to maintain the status quo on the campus. In the petition, the decision of the District Court has been challenged in the High Court.

This order has been given by a single bench of Justice JJ Munir. Advocates Harishankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain argued on the petition. The next hearing of the case will be on November 21. At the same time, the hearing of Shringar Gauri Puja case located at Varanasi Gyanvapi complex has been postponed on the request of the advocates. The next hearing of this case will now be held on November 22. A petition has been filed on behalf of the Anjuman Inazaniya Masajid Committee, challenging the decision of the District Judge of Varanasi on September 12 from the court.

The Waqf Act and the Places of Worship Act of 1991 are mainly being cited by the arranging committee of the mosque. In this case, along with Rakhi Singh, 10 people including the five plaintiff women and the UP government have been made parties to the Gyanvapi Masjid’s Arrangement Committee. In fact, on September 12, District Judge Varanasi, while rejecting the objection of the Muslim side, approved the continuation of Rakhi Singh’s case in the Shringar Gauri case. The matter is also being heard by a single bench of Justice JJ Munir.

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Tags: Allahabad high court, Gyanvapi Masjid Controversy, Gyanvapi Masjid Survey, Prayagraj News