High Court Orders Scientific Survey Of 'Shivling' At Gyanvapi Mosque

Gyanvapi mosque: The Allahabad High Court said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should use a "scientific" method in surveying the structure, claimed to be a "Shivling", and avoid damaging it

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a scientific survey of a structure, which Hindu petitioners claim is a "Shivling", inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.

The Varanasi district court had denied the petitioners' request for the survey in October last year.

In the order today, the high court said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should use a "scientific" method in surveying the structure and avoid damaging it.

The Gyanvapi mosque authorities have denied the structure is a Shivling, or relic of Lord Shiva. They said the structure is a part of a fountain in the "wazu khana", where people perform ablutions before offering namaz.