Varanasi: A Varanasi court on Friday postponed the hearing of the Gyanvapi case and scheduled it on October 11. The district court was expected to deliver its judgement today in connection with the petition filed by the Hindu side seeking carbon dating of the structure they claimed to be a ‘Shivling’ found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque.  A heavy police force was deployed outside the premises of the court ahead of the crucial hearing.

Earlier, the court had reserved its order in the case on September 29 after hearing the arguments of both sides. The bench of Varanasi District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishwesh will pass the order.
It is noted that the Hindu side had filed a plea and claimed that a ‘Shivling’ was found on the premises near the ‘wazukhana’ during the videography survey of the mosque. The survey was ordered by the court. While the Muslim side claimed that the found structure was a ‘fountain’ not ‘Shivling’. After that the Hindu side had submitted an application on September 22, seeking a carbon dating of the found structure, which they claimed to be ‘Shivling’.

Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds.
First, pertaining to the demand from the court to worship the Shivling found in Gyanvapi, a case filed on behalf of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda.
The second in connection with the case demanding to hand over the ‘Shivling’ site found in Gyanvapi to the Hindus. Hearing on both applications is to be held in the court of Senior Civil Judge Kumudlata Tripathi today.

Earlier on September 29, the Hindu side demanded a carbon dating investigation of the ‘Shivling’ by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the carbon dating of ‘Argha’ and the area around it.

Advocate Vishnu Jain representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi Masjid matter said, “The Hindu side demanded that the ASI conduct a scientific investigation of the ‘Shivling’. We have also demanded a carbon dating of Argha and the area around it”.

“Muslim side too presented its side before the Court, they said that carbon dating shouldn’t be done. They said that it’s a fountain & not a Shivling and it can’t be ascertained”, added Vishnu Jain.

The advocate further added that there is no break-up on the Hindu side, rather all the Hindus demand just one thing that the Shivalinga found should be scientifically investigated without causing any damage to it.

Earlier, an appeal had been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Allahabad High Court which had dismissed a PIL that sought the appointment of a committee/commission under a judge to study the nature of the structure found in the Gyanvapi Mosque, Varanasi.

The appeal filed by seven devotees sought direction from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to ascertain the nature of the structure found on the Gyanvapi campus.

The Allahabad High Court had on July 19 dismissed their plea seeking the appointment of a committee/commission headed by a judge of the High Court or supreme court (sitting/retired) to study the nature of the structure found in the Gyanvapi Mosque.

The PIL moved before the High Court seeks direction from a committee to ascertain whether a Shivalinga, as claimed by the Hindus, had been found inside the mosque or if it is a fountain as claimed by Muslims.
The appeal in the top court stated that the Allahabad High Court had erred in dismissing the plea.
On May 20, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case related to worship at Gyanvapi mosque from the civil judge to the District Judge, Varanasi.
Earlier on September 12, the Varanasi Court had dismissed a plea of Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women seeking worshipping rights in the Gyanvapi mosque compound.