Lawyers for the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, will file their response in a local court on Tuesday seeking carbon dating or other scientific examination of the structure on the premises of the mosque, which is said to be a “shivling”. Four Hindu plaintiffs last month demanded an investigation into the construction. Madan Mohan, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, said the Varanasi district court on October 7 fixed October 11 for the next hearing in the matter and directed the AIMC to file its response to their demand.
Tauhid Khan, one of the lawyers representing AIMC, objected to carbon dating or any scientific examination of the structure, saying it was part of the mosque’s cleaning area. “We will send our reply,” Khan said. The court reserved its judgment on September 29 after hearing a lawsuit by four plaintiffs seeking carbon dating. Another claimant, Rakhi Singh, filed a lawsuit against the carbon dating in court, saying it would make the “shivling” unsuitable for religious practices.
Hindu prosecutors claimed that the “shivling” was found near a small tank used to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz at the Gyanvapi mosque. The mosque management claimed that it was part of the fountain system. The five Hindu women plaintiffs sought permission for daily worship at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal near the outer wall of the Gyanvapi Mosque.
