Today, the Muslim Party moves to the Top Court and submit an appeal challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court allowing a scientific investigation to ascertain whether the object found during the survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque premises is a Shiva linga or a fountain.

The case was mentioned before a bench comprising the Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala by Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi representing the Muslim party in the matter. The Supreme Court agreed to list the case for hearing tomorrow.

In the previous order, the bench of Allahabad High Court headed by Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra-I decided to allow scientific investigation after scrutinizing a report submitted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

"Court has no hesitation in observing that the report forwarded by the Superintending Archaeologist, ASI Sarnath Circle, Sarnath, Varanasi, would make it feasible and convenient that scientific investigation can be made to the extent and purport without causing harm to the site / Shivlingam in issue. That way, the natural premise that would follow, would proceed on the theme that the actual site of the Shivlingam would remain preserved and protected," the High Court said.

The technical and scientific report of the ASI has opened ways for carrying out a scientific investigation of the Shivlinga without causing any damage to the structure in question, the High Court added.

It, therefore, directed the District Judge, Varanasi to proceed in the case and do a scientific investigation of the Shivlinga under the guidance of the ASI.

The case itself began when Hindu devotees approached a civil court seeking the right to worship inside Gyanvapi Mosque, claiming that it was a Hindu temple and still houses Hindu deities.