The apex court's bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, intends to thoroughly examine the implications of the High Court order before proceeding, thereby putting the survey on hold for now.
The Supreme Court has deferred the implementation of an Allahabad High Court order allowing a "scientific survey" to determine the age of a 'Shivling' found within the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. According to reports by Indian Express, the apex court bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, decided to closely examine the implications of the High Court order before proceeding.
The hearing was conducted following the submissions made by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the Gyanvapi mosque management committee. The High Court order, which called for a scientific survey and carbon dating of the "Shivling," had overturned a lower court's decision.
The dispute arose when a videographic survey conducted last year revealed the presence of a structure claimed as a "Shivling" by the Hindu side and a "fountain" by the Muslim side within the mosque premises. The petitioners, Laxmi Devi and three others, challenged the Varanasi District Judge's rejection of their application for a scientific survey and carbon dating of the object.
The Allahabad High Court's subsequent order on May 12 directed the scientific survey, including carbon dating.