India: Varanasi court rejects plea for carbon dating of 'shivling' found at Gyanvapi mosque

A court in India's Varanasihas rejected the plea for carbon dating of the 'shivling' thatwas found inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

PTI reportsthat the presiding District Judge A K Vishvesha turned down the plea after hearing both sides: the mosque committee and Hindu petitioners.

The plea cited the Supreme Court of India's directive to keep the 'shivling' safe, so that no tampering could be done and sought scientific investigation and carbon dating of the idol.

The 'shivling' was discovered inthe 'wazookhana,' a tiny pond used by Muslim worshipers to perform ablutions before namaz,during court-ordered search and videographyof the mosque premises.

The mosque committee opposed carbon dating while four of the five Hindu parties supported it. The mosque committee argued that the Supreme Court had directed the Varanasi district magistrate to keep the object secure and that it would not be appropriate to have it inspected in these circumstances.

Talking to reporters, the Hindu side's lawyer, Madan Mohan Yadav, disclosed that they will now approach the High Court.

"The judge has rejected our demand of seeking carbon dating. We are waiting for the order copy. The option of going to the High Court is available to us and we will place our point before higher court," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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