Today News 24 side in the case had demanded carbon dating and scientific investigation of the object, while the plea was opposed by the Muslim side.
Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha cited possibility of damages to “shivling” in conducting carbon dating or any scientific investigation while disallowing the plea.
Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav representing the Hindu side said they will now approach the high court against the ruling.
Five Hindu women in August 2021 moved court seeking rights to worship the Shringar Gauri deity within the Gyanvapi complex. Following this, the Varanasi district court ordered a videographic survey of the mosque complex.
Hindu petitioners during the video survey claimed that a “shivling” was found close to the “wazookhana”, a small reservoir used by Muslim devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz.
They demanded carbon-dating to ascertain the age of the object.
The “shivling” claim was disputed by the Muslim side, that said the object was really part of a “fountain”.
Anjuman Intezamia Masajid – the Gyanvapi mosque management committee – opposed the demand of carbon dating and scientific investigation of the ‘shivling,’ and said the process might cause damage to the object.
The AIM lawyers stated in the court that as “the Supreme Court’s order of May 17 to protect it is prevalent, such structure can’t be disturbed”.
The Muslim side also said the original case is about the worship of Shringar Gauri while the structure in the mosque has nothing to do with it.
This was countered by the Hindu side, that the SC had empowered the Varanasi district judge through its May 20 order to dispose all applications related to the case.
Arguments on the plea were completed on October 11, and the verdict reserved.
