The Allahabad High Court has designated the Sambhal Jama Masjid as a “disputed site” while reviewing a petition from the mosque management committee requesting authorization to whitewash the historic Mughal-era structure.
Additionally, the court instructed that the Shahi Masjid be referred to as a “disputed structure” following a request from Hindu representatives.
The legal dispute regarding the 16th-century monument arose after allegations surfaced claiming that a Hindu temple, the Harihar Mandir, was demolished by Babur to build the mosque. A court-ordered survey last November ignited widespread tensions in Sambhal, as a large crowd protested against the survey.
The High Court was considering a petition from the mosque committee for permission to proceed with whitewashing, despite an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report suggesting no necessity for such actions at present.
Advocate Hari Shankar Jain contested the committee’s assertion of responsibility for the mosque’s upkeep under a 1927 agreement, arguing that the ASI holds that obligation.
During the proceedings, Advocate Jain requested the bench to label the mosque as a “disputed structure,” to which the court acquiesced, as reported.
On February 28, the High Court directed the ASI to undertake cleaning activities at the mosque, addressing dust and vegetation inside and surrounding the site.
In his affidavit, Advocate Jain alleged that the mosque committee had made significant alterations to the building and painted its walls and pillars without obtaining ASI approval, allegedly obscuring Hindu symbols. Jain is a primary petitioner concerning the presence of a temple at the location of the mosque.
The Uttar Pradesh government has recently initiated substantial restoration and renovation efforts for ancient Hindu sites, encompassing temples and wells throughout the area.
In today’s assembly session, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused certain elements of attempting to erase evidence of various pilgrimage sites and wells in the region. He stated, “As part of the mischief, an attempt was made to erase the signs of 68 pilgrimages and 19 wells of Sambhal. We identified 54 pilgrimages and located 19 wells. We must reclaim what belongs to us. Nothing else should be pursued beyond this.”
The court is set to reconvene on March 10 to address the issue of whitewashing, when the ASI will present its response.
