Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday (May 13) reserved its judgment in the Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar Mandir dispute at Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh.
The Masjid Committee has filed a revision petition challenging an order of the Sambhal district court directing for survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid on a plea by the Hindu side claiming the said mosque was previously a Harihar temple.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal reserved the judgment after hearing submissions made by the masjid committee, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and Hari Shanker Jain, the plaintiff in the suit before Sambhal court, news agency PTI reported.
High court earlier stayed further proceedings of Hindu side suit pending before Sambhal court
The high court earlier had stayed the further proceedings of the original suit pending before the district court at Sambhal till the next date of hearing.
The Masjid Committee has alleged that the Hindu side filed the suit in the afternoon of November 19, 2024 and the judge appointed an advocate commissioner within hours and directed the advocate commissioner to carry out an initial survey at the Jama Masjid, which was done on the same day, i.e. on November 19, and again on November 24 last year.
Sambhal court ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid last year
The Sambhal court, while hearing a plea filed by the Hindu side seeking the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid by an advocate commissioner, had on November 19 last year had ordered for the survey of the mosque. The court, while taking note of the arguments made by the Hindu side, said that it is probable that the survey report will facilitate the court in deciding the case and ordered ordering for the survey of the mosque. It had also directed that a report of the survey be filed before it.
Supreme Court earlier directed Sambhal court to halt proceedings
The Supreme Court earlier, while hearing a plea filed by the Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal against the Sambhal court order and seeking a stay on the order, directed the Sambhal trial court to halt proceedings in the matter and not to pass any order related to survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid and not to open any survey report till the matter is heard by the appellate court.
Apex court also directed Uttar Pradesh government to maintain peace and harmony in Sambhal
The apex court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to maintain peace and harmony in Sambhal where four people lost their lives and several others were injured in the November 24 violence during a protest against a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
