[GYANVAPI] Allahabad High Court Grants Further 8 Weeks' Time To ASI To Reply On Safe Evaluation Of 'Shiva Linga' Age

The Allahabad High Court has granted a further 8 weeks' time to the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) to give an opinion as to whether a safe evaluation of the age of the 'Shiva Linga', purportedly found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, can be done.

The bench of Justice J. J. Munir passed this order in a revision plea moved before it challenging the Varanasi Court's October 14 order wherein it had rejected Hindu worshippers' plea for conducting a scientific probe of the 'Shiva Linga', reportedly found inside Gyanvapi Mosque premises on May 16.

It may be noted that the Anjuman Masjid committee (which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque) has been calling the structure found inside the mosque premises in question as a 'Fauwara/Fountain'. On the other hand, the Hindu worshippers have been calling the structure as 'Shiva Linga'.

It may further be noted that hearing the matter on November 5, the Court had issued a notice to the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) essentially asking the DG, ASI to give her opinion on the following issues by November 21, 2022:

However, on January 19, when the ASI submitted before the Court that it needs a further 8 weeks' time to file a response to Court's query, the Court allowed the prayer and posted the matter for further hearing on March 20, 2023.

Essentially, this issue came for the Court's consideration as the Revisionists (Laxmi Devi And 3 Others), while challenging the Varanasi Court's October 14 Order, have also sought HC's 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.

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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