Supreme Court to Examine Plea for Urgent Hearing on Cleaning Water Tank at Gyanvapi Mosque Site

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea for granting an urgent hearing on an application by a group of Hindu women, for cleaning of the water tank at premises of Gyanvapi mosque at Varanasi, where a 'Shivlinga' was found during the survey by the court-appointed commissioner.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the applicants submitted before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that the matter is shown to be listed on January 12.

He requested the court to fix it for hearing on an earlier date. 

The bench asked him to send a request through email which would be looked into. 

In the application, the women said the water tank has not been cleaned since May 16, 2022, when the survey was conducted the fishes in the water tank have died in between December 20 and December 25, 2023.

In view of this, there is putrid smell emitting from the tank, their plea said.

It also claimed that the petitioner Anjuman Intezamia is responsible for the condition of fishes due to which they have died.

"In case, the fish would have been transferred as requested by District Magistrate, Varanasi, the present unfortunate situation would have not occurred. Since there exists Shivlingam which is sacred to Hindus and should be kept away from all dirt, grime, dead animals, etc and must be in clean condition, is currently in the midst of dead fishes which is hurtful to the sentiments to the devotees of Lord Shiva," the plea said.

The plea filed by Jain sought a direction from the court to the District Magistrate for cleaning the entire area of Shivlingam and maintain hygienic condition.

In May, 2022, the Supreme Court had directed for protection of the 'Shivling', and free access to Muslims to the site for offering namaz.