Sambhal Masjid Row: Allahabad HC Rejects Mosque Committee's Plea, Upholds Trial Court's Survey Order

Sambhal: The Allahabad High Court on Monday rejected the Sambhal Mosque Committee's plea challenging the trial court's order to conduct a survey of the mosque. A bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal heard the Mosque Committee's plea.

Justice Agarwal had previously reserved its order on the matter after hearing counsel of both sides. In November last year, the trial court in Sambhal directed an Advocate Commissioner to survey the Mughal-era mosque, Shahi Jama Masjid. The Mosque Committee had moved the High Court against the decision.

The Allahabad HC's bench said that Hindu plaintiffs are prima facie not barred, reported Live Law. Notably, a suit was filed by eight plaintiffs, including Mahant Rishiraj Giri and Hari Shanker Jain. They claimed that the Sambhal Mosque was built in 1526 after demolishing the Harihar Temple.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the plaintiffs, told PTI, "The order of Allahabad High Court is very crucial for those who questioned how the court appointed survey commissioner on November 19 and November 24 as a party, and ordered a survey without listening the survey committee. This a breach of law, and questions were raised over the court and the concerned parties."

The original plaintiffs in the suit claimed the right of access to the religious site at Mohalla Kot Purvi in Sambhal district. Meanwhile, the mosque committee alleged that the suit was filed at noon on November 19, 2024, and within hours, the judge appointed an advocate commissioner and directed him to carry out an initial survey at the mosque.

After the trial court's order to conduct the survey, violence broke out in Sambhal. A large group of people gathered near the mosque. The protesters then clashed with security personnel, torched vehicles and pelted stones.

Five people reportedly lost their lives in the violence, several police personnel were also injured.