The High Court dismisses Sunni Waqf Board’s claim over temple lake; separate site now allotted for Tazia immersion to maintain harmony.
Prayagraj: Today, on June 20, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court recently gave its decision on the long-standing dispute over the ancient lake next to the historic Jharkhandi Mahadev Temple in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh.
On 21st March 2025, the Court dismissed the petition filed by the Sunni Waqf Board, which had claimed rights over the lake by referring to it as ‘Karbala’.
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However, the Court clarified that
“this lake is not recorded as Karbala in the revenue records”,
rejecting the Waqf Board’s claim on legal grounds.
This lake, located right next to the Jharkhandi Mahadev Temple, has been an important part of the religious and cultural life of the local Hindu community for many years.
According to the people living in the area, “there have never been any religious symbols of any other religion in the area”, suggesting that the site has traditionally been associated only with Sanatan Dharma.
In the years 2018-19, the Balrampur Nagar Palika Parishad took steps to improve and beautify the lake. An amount of Rs 29.92 lakh was spent on the beautification project, after which the lake was officially named ‘Temple Pond’.
This reinforced the religious and cultural association of the lake with the temple and the Hindu community.
However, in recent years, the water of the lake had become polluted due to the immersion of Tazia during the festival of Muharram.
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This led to concerns among the temple authorities and local devotees as the polluted water became unusable for sacred rituals and even for the animals and birds that relied on it.
As per the concerns raised,
“this water was neither suitable for Achaman nor for animals and birds.”
To solve this issue and prevent any future environmental and religious concerns, the local municipality has taken a practical step by designating a separate location for Tazia immersion.
This decision aims to respect the sentiments of both communities and maintain harmony. The administration stated that
“the determination of the new site will protect both religious harmony and the environment.”
The issue also saw active participation from members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other religious groups. They submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate, expressing their concerns about preserving the sanctity of the lake and requesting a permanent solution.
Present during the submission were VHP activists and local leaders including Resham Singh, Kiran Singh, Dr. Rakesh Chandra, and several representatives from various social and religious organisations.
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