The Gyanvapi mosque case has become the centre of public attention in India as the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday (July 25) began hearing a plea against a district court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey to determine if the mosque in Varanasi was built upon a temple. 
 
After hearing arguments in the matter, Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker posted it for further hearing on Wednesday.

The mosque is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi city of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

Hindu litigants in the district court had sought the survey to probe the claims and determine whether a temple existed at the same spot earlier.&nbsp;

On Friday, the ASI was ordered by the Varanasi district court to conduct a survey, except in the sealed area, using technologies like ground penetrating radar and excavations in case they&nbsp;were required.&nbsp;

The ASI team had reached the site on Monday morning, had started the work and was inside the complex&nbsp;when the Supreme Court issued an order to pause the survey. The order was applicable till 5:00pm (IST) Wednesday.&nbsp;

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The order was passed by the court while hearing a petition filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), the caretaker of the Gyanvapi mosque.&nbsp;

Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, who is one of the counsels of the Hindu petitioners in the legal dispute, said the survey work lasted for about four hours before it was stopped.&nbsp;

He said that to carry out a detailed inspection, the entire premises was inspected and measured and four teams were deployed at the four corners.&nbsp;

Chaturvedi further added that the survey proceedings have been recorded by installing four cameras at the four corners of the mosque.&nbsp;

He said that the stones and bricks on the premises were also inspected.&nbsp;

He added, "We are sure that the entire complex belongs to the temple and the result of the survey will be in our favour."&nbsp;

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Vishnu Shankar Jain, another counsel representing the petitioners, said, "We will go to the high court and argue on this issue within two days. A wrong statement is being given by the Muslim side that vandalism is being done in the campus, while only measurement and mapping work is being carried out during the survey."&nbsp;

Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker heard the matter and posted it for further hearing on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Senior advocate SFA Naqvi argued on behalf of the mosque management.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Gyanvapi mosque case has become the centre of public attention in India as the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday (July 25) began hearing a plea against a district court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey to determine if the mosque in Varanasi was built upon a temple.

The Gyanvapi mosque case has become the centre of public attention in India as the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday (July 25) began hearing a plea against a district court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey to determine if the mosque in Varanasi was built upon a temple. After hearing arguments in the matter, Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker posted it for further hearing on Wednesday. The mosque is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi city of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Hindu litigants in the district court had sought the survey to probe the claims and determine whether a temple existed at the same spot earlier. On Friday, the ASI was ordered by the Varanasi district court to conduct a survey, except in the sealed area, using technologies like ground penetrating radar and excavations in case they were required. The ASI team had reached the site on Monday morning, had started the work and was inside the complex when the Supreme Court issued an order to pause the survey. The order was applicable till 5:00pm (IST) Wednesday. Also read: Delhi court acquits ex-Haryana minister Gopal Kanda in air hostess Geetika Sharma suicide case The order was passed by the court while hearing a petition filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), the caretaker of the Gyanvapi mosque. Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, who is one of the counsels of the Hindu petitioners in the legal dispute, said the survey work lasted for about four hours before it was stopped. He said that to carry out a detailed inspection, the entire premises was inspected and measured and four teams were deployed at the four corners. Chaturvedi further added that the survey proceedings have been recorded by installing four cameras at the four corners of the mosque. He said that the stones and bricks on the premises were also inspected. He added, "We are sure that the entire complex belongs to the temple and the result of the survey will be in our favour." Also read: 24th Kargil War anniversary celebrations start in Drass Vishnu Shankar Jain, another counsel representing the petitioners, said, "We will go to the high court and argue on this issue within two days. A wrong statement is being given by the Muslim side that vandalism is being done in the campus, while only measurement and mapping work is being carried out during the survey." Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker heard the matter and posted it for further hearing on Wednesday. Senior advocate SFA Naqvi argued on behalf of the mosque management. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Gyanvapi mosque management moves Allahabad high court against ASI survey

The Allahabad High Court on Friday set aside a lower court order and directed the authorities to conduct a 'scientific survey', including carbon dating of the ‘shivling’&nbsp;(a&nbsp;sacred Hindu symbol of Lord Shiva) that was discovered last year&nbsp;at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey.&nbsp;

While the Hindu side claims the structure is a ‘shivling’, the Muslim side contends it is part of a fountain.&nbsp;

In October 2022, the Varanasi district court had rejected the demand for carbon dating the structure.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra not only accepted the&nbsp;revision petition filed by Laxmi Devi and three others against the district court order but also directed the&nbsp;Varanasi district judge to proceed in accordance with the law on the application by Hindu worshippers.&nbsp;

"The district judge passed the order without any basis as it should have called for expert opinion from&nbsp;Archaeological Survey of India&nbsp;(ASI) on whether carbon dating of the shivling could be done without causing any harm. Therefore, the order should be quashed," argued Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain who appeared for the revisionists.

“The High Court has agreed to our prayer for a scientific probe of the shivling that was found inside the so-called mosque complex. The Muslim side says it is a fountain. We say it is a shivling. The court has ordered that without any damage to the shivling, analysis and study of it be done," added&nbsp;Advocate Hari Shankar Jain.&nbsp;

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<h2>Muslim side contemplating challenging the order</h2>

Meanwhile, Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi, who represented the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), said they will take a decision on whether to challenge the High Court&nbsp;order in the Supreme Court or not after holding a discussion with the&nbsp;mosque committee and other stakeholders.&nbsp;

“We will decide soon. The court has allowed the Hindu side’s petition and has ordered that a scientific investigation, including carbon dating, be done on the object found in the mosque premises," said Naqvi.

The Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Varanasi — often regarded as the oldest city on planet Earth.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gyanvapi-masjid-survey-over-what-we-know-so-far-479503">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Gyanvapi Masjid survey over: What we know so far</a>

It lies on the western bank of the holy river Ganges and is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas". Chandragupta II, commonly known as Vikramaditya, is claimed to have constructed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during the Gupta period.

The temple and its remnants upon which the mosque is built are visible to the naked eye. The likes of Qutb al-Din Aibak,&nbsp;Hussain Shah Sharqi, Sikandar Lodi and Aurangzeb are believed to be the ones who demolished the temple and built the mosque upon it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The Allahabad High Court on Friday set aside a lower court order and directed the authorities to conduct a 'scientific survey', including carbon dating of the ‘shivling’ (a sacred Hindu symbol of Lord Shiva) that was discovered last year at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey.

The Allahabad High Court on Friday set aside a lower court order and directed the authorities to conduct a 'scientific survey', including carbon dating of the ‘shivling’ (a sacred Hindu symbol of Lord Shiva) that was discovered last year at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey. While the Hindu side claims the structure is a ‘shivling’, the Muslim side contends it is part of a fountain. In October 2022, the Varanasi district court had rejected the demand for carbon dating the structure. However, Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra not only accepted the revision petition filed by Laxmi Devi and three others against the district court order but also directed the Varanasi district judge to proceed in accordance with the law on the application by Hindu worshippers. "The district judge passed the order without any basis as it should have called for expert opinion from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on whether carbon dating of the shivling could be done without causing any harm. Therefore, the order should be quashed," argued Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain who appeared for the revisionists. “The High Court has agreed to our prayer for a scientific probe of the shivling that was found inside the so-called mosque complex. The Muslim side says it is a fountain. We say it is a shivling. The court has ordered that without any damage to the shivling, analysis and study of it be done," added Advocate Hari Shankar Jain. WATCH | Joe Biden to host PM Narendra Modi for state visit × Muslim side contemplating challenging the order Meanwhile, Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi, who represented the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), said they will take a decision on whether to challenge the High Court order in the Supreme Court or not after holding a discussion with the mosque committee and other stakeholders. “We will decide soon. The court has allowed the Hindu side’s petition and has ordered that a scientific investigation, including carbon dating, be done on the object found in the mosque premises," said Naqvi. The Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Varanasi — often regarded as the oldest city on planet Earth. ALSO READ | Gyanvapi Masjid survey over: What we know so far It lies on the western bank of the holy river Ganges and is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas". Chandragupta II, commonly known as Vikramaditya, is claimed to have constructed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during the Gupta period. The temple and its remnants upon which the mosque is built are visible to the naked eye. The likes of Qutb al-Din Aibak, Hussain Shah Sharqi, Sikandar Lodi and Aurangzeb are believed to be the ones who demolished the temple and built the mosque upon it. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Allahabad HC overturns district court order, directs carbon dating of ‘shivling’ at Gyanvapi mosque

A court in India's Varanasi&nbsp;has rejected the plea for carbon dating of the 'shivling' that&nbsp;was found inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

PTI reports&nbsp;that the presiding District Judge A K Vishvesha turned down the plea after hearing both sides: the mosque committee and Hindu petitioners.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gyanvapi-mosque-case-verdict-indian-court-admits-hindu-womens-plea-seeking-right-to-worship-515355">Gyanvapi Mosque case verdict: Indian court admits&nbsp;Hindu petitioners' plea seeking right to worship</a>

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 in&nbsp;the 'wazookhana,' a tiny pond used by Muslim worshipers to perform ablutions before namaz,&nbsp;during court-ordered search and videography&nbsp;of 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.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gyanvapi-row-indian-court-defers-hearing-on-carbon-dating-of-shivling-next-hearing-on-october-11-523291">Gyanvapi row: Indian court defers order on carbon dating of 'shivling' structure</a>

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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A court in India's Varanasi has rejected the plea for carbon dating of the 'shivling' that was found inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises. PTI reports that the presiding District Judge A K Vishvesha turned down the plea after hearing both sides: the mosque committee and Hindu petitioners.

A court in India's Varanasi has rejected the plea for carbon dating of the 'shivling' that was found inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises. PTI reports that the presiding District Judge A K Vishvesha turned down the plea after hearing both sides: the mosque committee and Hindu petitioners. Also read | Gyanvapi Mosque case verdict: Indian court admits Hindu petitioners' plea seeking right to worship 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 in the 'wazookhana,' a tiny pond used by Muslim worshipers to perform ablutions before namaz, during court-ordered search and videography of 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. Also read | Gyanvapi row: Indian court defers order on carbon dating of 'shivling' structure 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) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

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