The Allahabad high court has accepted a petition contesting the Varanasi district judge order that had rejected the demand for carbon-dating and scientific investigation of the purported ‘Shivling’ found during a court-mandated survey of Gyanvapi complex on June 16.
The high court also issued notices to Anjuman Intezamia Masajid - the Gyanvapi mosque management committee - the district authorities and others in the matter. In the petition, a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the area concerned was also demanded.
The petitioners had previously filed a motion with the lower court asking for the appointment of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) experts to determine the age and make-up of the "Shivling."
The Varanasi district court rejected the application on October 14 this year, stating that any scientific survey would go against the Supreme Court's directive to secure the region where the "Shivling" had been discovered.
Justice JJ Munir, while admitting the revision petition filed by Laxmi Devi and others, also directed to issue notices to opposite parties.
