The Supreme Court has instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to clean the wuzu water tank, which was previously sealed. The tank, located in Varanasi, was sealed after the discovery of a large Shivling during a court-ordered survey in May 2022. The tank, which is part of the Gyanvapi mosque, has not been cleaned since the discovery and is emitting a foul smell due to the presence of dead and rotten fishes.
Hindu plaintiffs, who have filed a suit seeking the right to worship gods and goddesses inside the Gyanvapi mosque, supported the cleaning plea. The mosque management committee also backed the plea and mentioned that a similar request from the Muslim side is pending before a Varanasi court.
The bench, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, accepted the plea and directed the state authorities to clean the water tank under the supervision of the Varanasi district magistrate. The tank was sealed on May 16, 2022, following the discovery of the Shivling, and the Supreme Court later confirmed the order.
The cleaning request comes as part of the ongoing legal battle over the Gyanvapi mosque. Hindu plaintiffs claim that the mosque was built in the 17th century on the site of the original Kashi Vishwanath temple, after partially demolishing it. The suit seeks to restore the right of worship for Hindus inside the mosque.
Senior advocate Madhavi Divan, representing the Hindu side, highlighted the deplorable condition of the wuzu tank, which had been left unused and uncleaned since May 16, 2022. The presence of dead and rotten fishes has led to a foul smell emanating from the tank. The mosque management committee, represented by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, acknowledged the deteriorating state of the tank and mentioned the pending plea from the Muslim side.
In response to the plea, the Supreme Court bench directed the state authorities to carry out the cleaning task carefully. The district magistrate will oversee the cleaning process to ensure its proper execution. The decision aims to address the concerns raised by the Hindu plaintiffs regarding the condition of the wuzu tank.
The hearing regarding the Gyanvapi mosque dispute is ongoing, with both Hindu and Muslim sides presenting their arguments. The Supreme Court’s order to clean the water tank reflects the court’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by both parties involved in the case.
The controversy surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque and the ongoing legal battle have attracted significant attention across the country. The Supreme Court’s decision to order the cleaning of the wuzu water tank acts as a crucial step in ensuring the fair and impartial conduct of the proceedings.
As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how the court will ultimately resolve the complex issues raised by the case. For now, the cleaning of the wuzu tank marks a significant development that seeks to address the concerns of the Hindu plaintiffs and maintain a fair process for all parties involved.
