The Supreme Court has said that it would hear after two weeks, a petition seeking directions to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the sealed area and the purported ‘Shivling’ found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
The Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud tagged the petition with similar pleas related to the matter, which would be heard after two weeks.
Filed by the Hindu side (plaintiff), the plea sought scientific investigation of the sealed area in the same manner as being done in the remaining complex.
It further sought directions to the ASI to undertake scientific investigation of the purported Shivling and submit a report on the nature and age of the structure and whether or not it was a fountain, as claimed by the Mosque committee.
The petition contended that the purported Shivling was found in a pond full of water around which walls had been erected.
It said it was strange that Muslims were using the pond for their Wazu purposes, even though it was known to them that there was a ‘Shivling’, an object of worship by Hindus, in the pond.
It further noted the claim made by the Mosque committee that the article found during survey was a fountain and not a ‘Shivling’.
The petition said the ASI has been carrying out a survey of the premises since August 4, in compliance with an earlier court order.
Since the ASI team was already present at the site with all the necessary instruments, they could be asked to survey the sealed area too, it added.