The Allahabad High Court has ordered a "scientific survey," including carbon dating, of a "shivling" found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, setting aside a lower court order. According to the reports by Indian Express, in May 2021, a videographic survey was conducted on orders from Civil Judge (Senior Division), Varanasi, and during the proceedings, a structure claimed to be a "shivling" by the Hindu side and a "fountain" by the Muslim side was found inside the mosque premises.
Hindu petitioners had challenged the Varanasi District Judge's order rejecting their application for a scientific survey and carbon dating of the "shivling" before the Allahabad High Court in November 2021. The petitioners prayed "to make scientific investigation by carbon dating or otherwise to determine the age, nature and other constituents of the Shivlingam."
Advocate Hari Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, said that "without any damages to the shivling, analysis and study of the shivling be done" after the High Court ordered a scientific probe of the shivling. Senior Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi, who represented the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, said that discussions with the mosque committee and others would decide whether to challenge the High Court's order in the Supreme Court.
The court had earlier sought the Archaeological Survey of India's opinion, which said with some reservations that carbon dating could be done through a new method where the structure would not be damaged.
