The Supreme Court will hear a plea filed by the mosque committee challenging a Chandausi court’s order permitting a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The matter has escalated following the Allahabad High Court’s refusal to stay the survey, with the Archaeological Survey of India stating the mosque is a protected monument rather than a place of worship.
A Chandausi court deferred the Shahi Jama Masjid–Harihar temple dispute hearing to August 28 after the mosque side argued jurisdiction lies with the Supreme Court. The case, involving claims of a temple beneath the mosque, has previously triggered violence in Sambhal
Marking a significant step toward the preservation and enhancement of the mosque’s historic structure, the entire process will be carried out under the direct supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team.
The mosque management committee has filed the petition requesting permission to whitewash the mosque premises ahead of Ramzan, a matter that has sparked considerable debate in recent months.
