On Monday, Supreme Court arrived to hear an April 14 plea by the Anjum Intezamia Majid committee seeking approval for ‘wazu’ (ritual ablution) at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during the month of Ramzan. The apex court on last year November 11, extended further orders for the protection of the area where a ‘Shivling’ was claimed to have been found. The dispute matter was mentioned before a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud.

Senior advocate, Huzefa Ahmadi, appealing on behalf of the Masjid committee side, filed a plea at the apex court bench to take part in the matter for hearing. He added that the month of Amazan is ongoing and worshipers need an adequate setup for ritual ablution. He said the water for wazu available in the drum and the number of worshippers increased during the Ramzan.

The CJI said the matter will be picked up for hearing on April 14 under the bench including Justice Surya Kant. On March 28, the SC had conceded to list for hearing on April 21 a petition of the Hindu side seeking amalgamation of all suits filed in a Varanasi session court about the Gyanvapi mosque complex row.     

In May 2022, the court ordered for protection of the pond in the Gyanvapi complex, earlier being used for ‘wazu’. After the purported uncovered of ‘Shiv Ling’ during the official survey under the court-appointed Commissioner, which the Muslim committee side called a fountain. 

In the past, the court had permitted the Hindu parties to proceed with a petition prior to the Varanasi district judge for the amalgamation of all litigation filed on the  Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gaur dispute. The order directed the Hindu side to file their replies within three weeks to the appeal by the Muslim committee challenging the Allahabad High Court order on the appointment of a survey commissioner.