Prayagraj (UP), March 19 The Allahabad High Court has directed that a recently discovered Jain idol, unearthed during the construction of an overhead water tank in Etah on June 22 last year, be placed in the custody of the Allahabad Museum in Prayagraj.
The idol, believed to date back to the 9th or 10th century, has become the subject of competing claims by both the Digambar and Shwetambar sects of the Jain community.
A bench of Justices Ajit Kumar and Swarupama Chaturvedi has ruled that once the idol is transferred, the museum must display it for public viewing.
Simultaneously, it has been directed to constitute a team of experts in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a detailed study to determine the idol's character, nature, period, and sectarian affiliation.
In an order dated March 17, the court said, "Considering the historical importance of the idol recovered, we, in the first instance, direct for its safe custody in the Central Museum at Prayagraj and accordingly, direct the district magistrate, Etah, to ensure that the idol in question is brought to the Central Museum at Prayagraj in safe custody and handed over to the director or in-charge director of the Central Museum at Prayagraj by April 11."
The court has emphasised that the expert panel should endeavour to submit its report within three months of the idol being placed in the museum.