Team News Riveting
New Delhi, May 19
The Supreme Court on Friday deferred the directions of the Allahabad High Court allowing a scientific investigation to ascertain whether the object found during the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises was a Shivalinga or a fountain.
The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha was hearing an appeal challenging an Allahabad High Court that had allowed a scientific investigation of Shivalinga or a fountain. The case was mentioned before by Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi representing the Muslim party in the matter, on Thursday for urgent hearing. The Court had listed the matter for today.
The bench passed the order deferring the High Court directions for the time being. The Court also sought the responses of the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments to the appeal filed by Muslim party challenging the High Court direction.
“The special leave petition (SLP) was mentioned to be listed today. But the main matter SLP has been listed today. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta appears for UP and Union of India. SLP is taken on board. Notice shall be issued. Parties accept notice. Since the implications of the directions in High Court order would merit closer scrutiny, thus it stands deferred till next date,” the Court directed.
The High Court had observed that a technical and scientific report of the ASI has opened ways for carrying out scientific investigation of the Shivalinga without causing any damage to the structure in question.
It had, therefore, set aside Varanasi District Court’s order of October, 2022 that had rejected the plea filed by Hindu parties seeking directions to the ASI to conduct a scientific investigation.
