Uttarakhand: Muslim side gets a setback from the High Court; Sambhal Jama Masjid will not be painted, court said- cleaning should be done under the supervision of ASI Prayagraj1 day ago

Allahabad High Court has given a shock to the Muslim side while hearing the petition filed regarding the painting of Jama Masjid. The court refused to allow the painting of the mosque on the basis of the report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). A three-member team of ASI inspected the mosque and submitted the report, which said that the painting of the mosque is in good condition right now and no repair work is required.

The High Court has also ordered immediate cleaning of the mosque under the supervision of ASI. The mosque committee has been given time till March 4 to register objections to this report. The next hearing of the case will be on March 4.

A petition was filed for painting

On February 25, Jama Masjid Committee lawyer Zahir Asghar filed a petition in Allahabad High Court. It was argued in the petition that every year the mosque is cleaned and painted before Ramadan, but this time the administration did not allow it. The administration said that the mosque is under the protection of ASI, so no changes can be made without the permission of the Archaeological Department.

The petition was heard on Friday. The High Court constituted a three-member committee to assess the condition of the mosque, which included the Mutawalli (manager) of the mosque and ASI officials. The court directed this team to submit the report within 24 hours.

ASI inspected the mosque, survey lasted for one and a half hours

On the instructions of Allahabad High Court, the ASI team inspected the Sambhal Jama Masjid on Thursday. The survey lasted for about one and a half hours, which included ASI Joint Director Madan Singh Chauhan, Director Zulfikar Ali and Vinod Singh Rawat. During this, lawyer Zafar Ali was also present on behalf of the mosque committee.

Keeping security in mind, police force and PAC personnel including ASP (North) Shrish Chandra, SDM Vandana Mishra and CO Anuj Chaudhary were deployed. Also, security was strengthened by barricading around the mosque.

Hindu side opposed painting

In this case, the Hindu side strongly opposed the painting of the mosque. They say that this can destroy historical evidence. The Hindu side claims that this place was earlier a temple and any change in the mosque can erase the remains of the temple.

The mosque committee had written a letter to the district administration and ASI seeking permission for painting, but the DM refused to give permission. The administration clarified that since this mosque is under the protection of ASI, any decision will be taken by the Archaeological Department.

UP government filed a report in the Supreme Court

In another case related to this dispute, the UP government had filed a status report in the Supreme Court three days ago. In the report, the government rejected the claim of the mosque committee, which said that a well located near the mosque is the property of the mosque.

The UP government told the Supreme Court that the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal was built on government land and the well located near it is also government property. The government has accused the mosque committee of misleading the court by presenting wrong pictures.

The government is renovating 19 wells

The UP government also said in its report that 19 ancient wells are being renovated in Sambhal. According to the government, this well was earlier public property, which was used by people of all communities.

After the communal riots in 1978, a police post was built on a part of this well. However, the other part was in use till 2012, but it was later covered. Now the mosque committee is trying to prove its ownership of this well.

What will happen next?

Now the next hearing of this case will be held in the High Court on March 4, 2025. Till then the mosque committee can file an objection to the ASI report. On the other hand, the Hindu side and the district administration are adamant in opposing the painting of the mosque.