New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear a plea from the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee on Friday, requesting a stay on the district court’s order for a survey of the mosque to ascertain if the disputed structure was originally a Harihar temple. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar will hear the matter on November 29, as per the apex court’s causelist.
The mosque committee has filed a special leave petition seeking an interim stay on the November 19 order by Chandausi’s Civil Judge. The plea demands that the survey report be sealed, and status quo maintained until the Supreme Court decides on the matter. It also requests guidelines to prevent surveys in disputes over places of worship without adequate hearings and time for legal recourse.
Tensions in Sambhal Amid Violence
On November 24, violence erupted during a court-mandated survey at the Mughal-era Jama Masjid. Locals clashed with police, pelting stones and vandalizing property. Four individuals were killed, and several police personnel sustained injuries. The attackers also set vehicles ablaze, escalating tensions in the area.
Judicial Inquiry Ordered
In response to the violence, the Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member judicial inquiry panel. The committee, headed by retired High Court judge Justice Devendra Kumar Arora, includes retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and former IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain. The panel has been tasked with investigating whether the violence was a pre-planned conspiracy or a spontaneous criminal act. The inquiry report is expected within two months.
The incident has further heightened sensitivities around the Jama Masjid vs. Harihar Mandir dispute, reflecting broader debates over heritage, communal harmony, and judicial processes.
