NEW DELHI: The Allahabad High Court's ruling directing a "scientific survey," including carbon dating, of a "Shivling" allegedly found at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey last year has been challenged, and the Supreme Court has consented to hear the case.

The appeal submitted by the Gyanvapi mosque management committee against the High Court's recent order for scientific research by ASI to determine the age of "Shivling" will be heard on Friday, said a bench consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala.

The Allahabad High Court had earlier on May 12 ordered employing modern technology to determine the age of the object alleged to be a Shivling in the Gyanvapi mosque. In its order, the HC stated that ASI must carry out the carbon dating without endangering or harming the structure in any way. By analysing the concentrations of various types of carbon in an object, carbon dating is a technique for determining the age of very old objects.

Senior attorney Huzefa Ahmadi brought up the matter for an urgent hearing on behalf of the management committee of the Gyanvapi mosque, claiming that the Allahabad High Court issued a ruling while the appeal was still pending.

On May 16 of last year, a court-ordered assessment of the mosque next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple revealed a structure inside the mosque grounds that was alleged to be a "Shivling" by the Hindu side and a "fountain" by the Muslim side.

The Varanasi District Judge's judgement rejecting the request for a scientific assessment and carbon dating of the "Shivling" on October 14, 2022, was overturned by the High Court on May 12th.

The High Court instructed the Varanasi District Judge to handle the Hindu devotees' request for a scientific investigation of the "Shivling" in accordance with the law.

Laxmi Devi and three other petitioners had brought an appeal against the lower court's decision to the High Court. 

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