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Gyanvapi | Hindu Worshippers' Plea Seeks Carbon Dating Of 'Shiva Linga': Varanasi Court Issues Notice To Masjid Committee
Sparsh Upadhyay
22 Sept 2022 7:27 PM IST
The Varanasi Court today issued a notice to the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque) over a plea filed by the Hindu worshippers seeking the carbon dating of the 'Shiva Linga' that was reportedly found within the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The District Judge AK Vishvesha has sought objections from the committee and posted the matter for the next hearing for...
The Varanasi Court today issued a notice to the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque) over a plea filed by the Hindu worshippers seeking the carbon dating of the 'Shiva Linga' that was reportedly found within the Gyanvapi mosque complex.
The District Judge AK Vishvesha has sought objections from the committee and posted the matter for the next hearing for disposal on 29 September. With this, the court rejected the prayer of the Masjid committee seeking 8 weeks' time to prepare for the next hearing.
This plea has been moved 10 days after the Varanasi Court dismissed the Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee's plea (filed under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC) challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women (plaintiffs) seeking worshipping rights in the Gyanvapi Mosque compound.
Read more about the Court's order here: Plaint Avers Hindu Deities Were Worshipped Inside Gyanvapi Mosque Complex Even After Aug 15, 1947; Places Of Worship Act No Bar To Suit: Varanasi Court
The claims regarding the Shiva Linga's presence within the Gyanvapi Mosque premises were made prominently on May 16 when the court-appointed Advocate Commissioner had submitted that he had found a Shiva Linga inside the Gyanvapi Mosque premises during the survey. Pursuant to this, the Court had ordered to seal the place/area concerned.
"The District Magistrate, Varanasi is ordered to immediately seal the place where the Shiva linga is found and the entry of any person is prohibited in the sealed place," the operative portion of the order reads.
The Court had also directed District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, and CRPF Commandment, Varanasi, to ensure the protection of the sealed place where Shivling has reportedly been found in the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque.
Later on, the Supreme Court had clarified that the order passed by the Civil Judge Senior Division at Varanasi to protect the spot where a "shiv ling" was claimed to have been found during the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque will not restrict the right of Muslims to access the mosque to offer namaz and to perform religious observances.
For the uninitiated, the Varanasi Court in April 2022 ordered an inspection of the premises on petitions moved by five Hindu women asking for year-long access to pray at a Hindu shrine behind the western wall of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi.
