High court orders placing of ancient Jain idol in museum

Prayagraj: Allahabad High Court has directed that a recently discovered Jain idol, unearthed during construction to install an overhead water tank in Etah on Jun 22, be placed in custody of the Allahabad Museum in Prayagraj for safekeeping and study. The idol, believed to date back to 9th–10th century, has become subject of competing claims between Digambar and Shwetambar, two sects of the Jain community.A bench of Justices Swarupama Chaturvedi and Ajit Kumar ruled that once the idol is transferred, the museum must display it for public viewing. Simultaneously, the bench directed to constitute a team of experts, in coordination with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a detailed study to determine the idol's character, nature, period, and sectarian affiliation.In its order dated Mar 17, the court said, "Considering historical importance of the idol recovered, claimed to be of 9th-10th century, and sensitivity of the sectarian interpretation of the identity of the idol with a particular sect, as reported by the superintending archeologist, we in the first instance direct for its safe custody in the Central Museum at Prayagraj and accordingly direct the district magistrate (DM), Etah to ensure the idol is brought to the Central Museum at Prayagraj in safe custody and handed over to the director/in charge director of the Central Museum at Prayagraj in any circumstance by Apr 11."The court added, "Once the idol is handed over to Central Museum at Prayagraj, the latter shall place it for public viewing, but at the same time constitute a team of experts in coordination with ASI for further study of its character, nature and period, especially with reference to the sects of the Jain Community."The court emphasised that the expert panel should submit its report within three months of the idol being placed in the museum.