Gyanvapi| Allahabad HC Directs ASI To File Reply On Safe Evaluation Of 'Shiva Linga' Age Sans Any Further Delay, Matter Posted For April 5

The Allahabad High Court today granted another chance to the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) to file its reply on the issue as to whether a safe evaluation of the age of the 'Shiva Linga', purportedly found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, can be done. The Court has now posted the matter for hearing on April 5.

The bench of Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra-I, however, asked it to expedite the process and not delay the matter any further as it noted that ASI's time extension application is working against the interest of Justice.

"Further time should not be sought by the Archaeological Survey of India as the Archaeological Survey of India may take advice as it thinks appropriate by embarking upon process which would expedite the mater because the issue on merits has been kept pending since long for obtaining report of the Archaeological Survey of India which time extension application is working against interest of justice and it should not be allowed to go on any further from 05.04.2023," the Court said.

The single judge passed this order today after the ASI sought further time for its opinion/report as well as other agencies by way of filing a time extension application. Though ASI's counsel regretted that it could not file its opinion, yet, a submission was made that consultation with other agencies was indispensable.

In view of the same, the Court expected it to take appropriate steps to arrive at some conclusion qua carbon dating, ground penetrating radar, excavation, and other methods in compliance with the order passed by this Court. It may be noted that earlier on Jan 20, the ASI was granted 8 weeks time to file its opinion before the Court.

The Court also expected that other agencies situated at Roorkee, Kanpur Nagar, or somewhere else which have been sought to tender advice would take up the case without causing any unnecessary delay.

Essentially, the High Court is presently dealing with a revision plea moved before it challenging the Varanasi Court's October 14 order wherein the local court had rejected Hindu worshippers' plea for conducting a scientific probe of the 'Shiva Linga'.

The Revisionists (Laxmi Devi And 3 Others) have moved the HC seeking a direction to the ASI to conduct a scientific probe of the 'Shiva Linga' through the methods of Carbon Dating, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and Excavation.

The Revisionists further seek a direction to the ASI to give its opinion through the issue of a Commission for scientific investigation to determine the age, nature, and other constituents of the Shivlingam, employing the abovementioned methods.

While the Anjuman Masjid committee (which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque) has been calling the structure found inside the mosque premises in question a 'Fauwara/Fountain', the Hindu worshippers have been calling the structure as 'Shiva Linga'.

Case title - Smt. Laxmi Devi And 3 Others. v. State Of U.P Thru Principal Sec.(Civil Sec.) Lko. Nd 5 Otrs

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