The Supreme Court has postponed the scientific investigation to establish the age of the alleged "Shivling" discovered at Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque while noting that "we need to tread carefully in this matter."
The top court was hearing a plea challenging the May 12 Allahabad High Court order of conducting a "scientific survey", including carbon dating, to determine the age of the structure.
"Since the implications of the impugned order merit closer scrutiny, the implementation of the directions concerned in the order shall stand deferred till the next date," said the bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
The bench also issued notices to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Hindu petitioners on the mosque panel's plea against the high court order for the scientific survey and carbon dating of 'Shivling'.
The Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government have both agreed for adjourning the proposed scientific survey of 'Shivling' for the time being.
The 'Shivling' was discovered earlier this year during a video survey conducted in the Gyanvapi mosque complex under the directives of a lower Varanasi court. The management of the mosque has objected to a scientific examination, claiming that the supposed "Shivling" is actually a "fountain" for ceremonial washings.
The mosque, located next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple, has been one of the three temple-mosque rows - besides Ayodhya and Mathura - which the BJP raised in the 1980s and 90s, gaining national prominence.