On November 21, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted to the Allahabad High Court its preliminary opinion that carbon dating of the 'Shiva Linga'-like structure found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque premises cannot be conducted due to the risk of damage, but that other modern techniques can be used to determine the age of the structure. The submission was made in response to a petition filed by a group of Hindu litigants seeking the formation of an independent body to inspect an object inside the mosque that they claim is a shivling, an idol depicting the Hindu deity Shiva. However, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, the mosque's caretaker, claims that the object is a fountainhead in the wazu khana, or ablution tank.

Manoj Kumar Singh, Counsel for the ASI, further contended that the carbon dating method cannot be used to determine the age of non-living things, such as the structure in question (the alleged 'Shiva Linga,' because they lack fossils/carbon. On the other hand, the Counsel for Rakhi Singh (Respondent no. 6), Saurabh Tiwari, objected to the carbon dating of the structure, claiming that it would cause damage to the structure. Instead, he argued that the carbon dating of the Gyabvapi Mosque premises be undertaken to determine the age of the entire complex.

The council also informed the High Court that the director general of the archaeological body has requested three months to provide her opinion on whether the object's age could be determined using other scientific methods. The High Court, however, denied the request and scheduled a hearing for November 30.

In May, a civil court in Varanasi granted permission for a video survey of the mosque, which revealed the presence of an oval object on the premises. The civil court ordered that the area where the oval object was discovered be sealed based on the plaintiff's submission. When the mosque committee filed an appeal against the civil court order, the Supreme Court ruled on May 17 that the object discovered during the survey be returned.

It also transferred the case to the district court in Varanasi, instructing it to first decide on the suit's maintainability under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, which specifies when certain pleas are barred. On September 12, District Judge AK Vishvesha dismissed the mosque committee's application, ruling that the petitioners' right to worship Hindu gods was valid and could be heard further.