SC allows cleaning of water tank at Gyanvapi Masjid complex in Varanasi

The Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted a petition filed by a Hindu woman plaintiff seeking cleaning of the water tank at the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, which is located in an area that has been sealed.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra ordered cleaning of the water tank under the supervision of the Varanasi District Magistrate.

The direction came after Additional Solicitor General Madhavi Divan, appearing in the court on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government, sought permission to clean the tank saying it contained dead fish.

The apex court also said in its order that a similar petition has been filed by the mosque’s management body Anjuman Arrangements Mosque Committee before a trial court in Varanasi.

Gyanvapi Masjid complex: Varanasi court to decide on January 24 whether ASI report should be made public or not
The Varanasi district court had on July 21 last year directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a “detailed scientific survey” – including excavations, wherever necessary – to determine whether the mosque lies next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Is located in or not. Was built over a temple.

The mosque’s “Vazukhana” (a small reservoir where devotees perform rituals), where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a “Shivlinga” exists, is being surveyed, following an earlier Supreme Court order protecting the place. Will not take part. Mosque complex.

Hindu activists claim that a temple previously existed at the site and was demolished on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century.

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