Allahabad High Court Directs ASI To Complete Whitewashing Of Sambhal Jama Masjid In One Week
The Allahabad High Court has directed the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake and complete the whitewashing of Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal District within a period of one week.
A Single Bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal also directed the ASI to install lights on the outer portion of the said mosque.
Earlier on Monday, the Allahabad High Court had directed the counsel appearing for the ASI to come up with specific averments as to what prejudice would whitewashing the outer walls of the mosque cause.
SFA Naqvi, the counsel for the Masjid Committee, had submitted that the ASI till date, has not disclosed in its Affidavit that it is denying the whitewashing, extra lighting, and installation of decorative lights outside the disputed structure.
He had also placed reliance upon the coloured photographs of the exterior portion of the disputed site showing the need of whitewashing.
Earlier on January 10 this year, the Supreme Court had intervened in the ongoing dispute over a well near the Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, and directed that no Municipality notices related to the well be given effect to, until further Orders.
In November last year, the ASI had filed an Affidavit before the Civil Court at Sambhal stating that the management of the Shahi Jama Masjid has objected to the entry of ASI officers to inspect the mosque, making the situation "very tough" for them.
On November 29, 2024, the Supreme Court had asked the management of Sambhal district's Shahi Jama Masjid to move the Allahabad High Court to challenge the Civil Court's Order to hold a survey of the mosque, while also asking the Civil Court to not proceed with the matter till the High Court hears it.
With PTI Inputs
