Gyanvapi Verdict: Win for Muslim Side as Court Says No to Carbon Dating of ‘Shivling’ in Mosque

The ‘Shivling’ claim has been heavily disputed by the Muslim side, who said the object was part of a ‘fountain’ and not a ‘Shivling’

India

By Rohini Rajhansh On Oct 15, 2022

Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds. (Photo: PTI/File)

A Varanasi court on Friday rejected the Hindu petitioners’ plea for carbon dating of what is claimed to be a ‘shivling’ in the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The court also dismissed all demands made for a scientific probe of the structure of the mosque.

District Judge AK Vishvesha turned down the plea seeking scientific investigation and carbon dating of the ‘shivling’, citing Supreme Court directives for its safekeeping so that no tampering can be done, said government counsel Rana Sanjiv Singh. Vishnu Shankar Jain, the advocate of the four Hindu petitioners seeking carbon dating of the ‘shivling’, said they would now approach the apex court with their demand.

The mosque management committee claims that the structure is not a ‘shivling’ but a part of the “wazookhana” reservoir system. Judge Vishvesha said, “The petitioners from number 2 to 5 had prayed that carbon dating or any other scientific technique like ground penetrating radar be used and the composition, nature, and age of the ‘Shiva Lingam’ found during the work of court commissioner on May 16 be determined.” The SC in its order on May 17, 2022, in the present case, had directed that the so-called ‘Shiva Lingam’ found during the work of the court commissioner be kept safe, he said.

“If on the use of carbon dating technique or ground penetrating radar, the so-called ‘Shiva Lingam’ is damaged, then it would be a violation of the May 17, 2022, order of the Supreme Court. Apart from this, by doing so, the religious feelings of the common public may be hurt,” he further said. “I am also of the view that at this level, it would not be appropriate to direct the Archaeological Survey of India to determine the age, nature, and composition of the so-called ‘Shiva Lingam’ found during the work of advocate commissioner. “And if this is ordered, then it seems that there is no possibility of finding a judicious solution to the questions involved in the dispute.” the judge said.

The Hindu side had during a court-mandated videography survey of the mosque premises earlier claimed that a ‘Shivling’ was found close to the ‘Wazookhana’, a small reservoir used by Muslim devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering the namaz. The Muslim side has however heavily disputed the ‘Shivling’ claim and has maintained that the object was part of a ‘fountain’ and not a ‘Shivling’.

The Muslim side on Friday argued that the decision on ASI survey of the mosque was still pending with the High Court and hence the lower court must wait before allowing carbon dating of the structure.

The Hindu side had initially submitted a petition seeking carbon dating of the structure so as to ‘confirm’ their claims that the object in the mosque was in fact a ‘Shivling’. There were several objections raised by both the Muslim side and some litigators in the Hindu side for carbon dating of the structure.

Advocate Mumtaz Ahmed, who had appeared for the Muslim side, earlier told the court that carbon dating of the object cannot be done and if the object gets damaged in the name of carbon dating, it amounts to the defiance of the order of the Supreme Court.

The Muslim side also said that the original case is about the worship of Shringar Gauri while the structure in the mosque has nothing to do with it.

Some from the Hindu side too had opposed the plea seeking carbon dating and said that the demand is unwarranted for and would amount to mishandling of the sacred structure.

Gyanvapi Verdict