Supreme Court Issues Notice on Sambhal Jama Masjid Dispute
Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the dispute over Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal.
The Supreme Court has sought a status report from the state government. This notice was issued based on a petition filed by the mosque management committee.
In the petition, the committee demanded that the District Magistrate be directed to maintain the status quo. Additionally, the private well being dug near the mosque’s stairs was also mentioned.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar instructed the administration not to take action on the municipality’s notice, which had declared the public well as part of the “Hari Mandir” and allowed prayers there. The Supreme Court has now temporarily prohibited any prayers at the well.
The well is excluded from public use.
The Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the trial court’s order. The trial court, on November 19, 2024, had ordered a survey of the mosque. Senior advocate Hudayfa Ahmadi represented the mosque committee in the Supreme Court, while advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain represented the petitioner.
Jain argued in court that the well is located outside the mosque.
Senior advocate Hudayfa Ahmadi stated that the well is partially inside the mosque and partially outside. He also emphasized that the well is exclusively for the mosque’s use.
The Supreme Court further stated that if the well is being used from outside the mosque, there would be no objection.
