Gyanvapi row: Indian court defers order on carbon dating of 'shivling' structure

On Friday (October 7), the Varanasi court deferred the order on the plea seekingcarbon dating of the structure deemed to be a 'shivling,' a significant object of worship in the Hindu religion.The next hearing is expected to be held on October 11.

The scientific probe has been opposed by Rakhi Singh, one of the five plaintiffs in the case, saying this method might harmthestructure.

Singh's representative, Jitendra Singh Bisen, said that this can be viewed as an "act of sacrilege." He further added that it was like casting doubt on the shivling's existence.

On the other hand, the mosque committee has also raised objections to the scientific investigation and argued that the object that the petitioners are referring to is actually a ‘fountain’ and not a ‘shivling’.

Reportedly, this structure was found in a pond in the Gyanvapi mosque complex, which was being used as a "wazoo pond" for purification before Muslim prayers.On September 12, the Varanasi court had dismissed a plea challenging the maintainability of the case.

Earlier this month, the district judge had also dismissed the committees’ challenge that the Hindu women who had been worshipping in the mosque complex had no legal backing. Notably, the challenge was dismissed on all three counts put forth.

Previously, the court had also ordered the filming of the centuries-old mosque based on the petition filed by the five women. This led to a major controversy as prior to the court date, the video of the mosque complex was allegedly leaked by the Hindu petitioners, claiming that there was a ‘shivling’ or relic of Lord Shiva.

The ongoing case is regarding the Gyanvapi mosque, which is located in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is also one of the several structures that a faction of Hindu hardliners assert is built on the ruins of Hindu temples.

(With inputs from agencies)

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