The management committee of Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid approached the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging a district court’s November 19 order to conduct a survey of the Mughal-era mosque. The Supreme Court is set to hear the plea on Friday, led by a bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, as per the court’s cause list.
The committee has requested an ex-parte stay on the district court’s order, citing its “hasty execution” that has allegedly triggered communal unrest in the region. The plea argued that such surveys, carried out without proper notice or opportunity for the mosque’s representatives to respond, could “inflame communal passions” and jeopardise the secular fabric of the nation.
Tensions Surrounding the Shahi Jama Masjid
The Shahi Jama Masjid, a 16th-century structure, has been at the center of a dispute following claims by plaintiffs that it was originally a Harihar temple. On November 19, a court-ordered survey was carried out with minimal notice, sparking tensions in the area.
The situation escalated on November 24 during protests against a second unannounced survey, resulting in violence, stone-pelting, and arson. Four people died, and several others were injured in the clashes.
The petitioners argued that the surveys were conducted in an unprecedented rush, violating due process and inflaming communal unrest. They also highlighted a growing trend of similar disputes being raised across the country, cautioning against the potential for widespread discord.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in this case is expected to have far-reaching implications for disputes over places of worship nationwide.
