News Brief
Allahabad High Court Directs ASI to Inspect Sambhal's Shahi Jama Mosque Ahead of Ramzan Amid Maintenance Dispute
The Allahabad High Court
Allahabad High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to inspect Shahi Jama Mosque at Sambhal to determine whether whitening and decorative preparations were required before the holy month of Ramzan. ASI has been ordered to present the report to the court tomorrow at 10 am.
Reported by LiveLaw, the direction was issued by a bench presided over by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, on a plea made by the Management Committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal, against the objections of officials raised over its proposed maintenance work.
The committee requested permission to go ahead with whitewashing, cleaning, minor repairs, and addition of more lighting to provide a comfortable experience for the faithful during Ramzan, which was to begin on 1 March 2025.
Following the state government, ASI, and management committee's pleas, the court directed a three-member team to visit the mosque, inspect the premises, and submit a report.
The ASI officials had been prevented from entering the mosque compound by the committee representatives during the proceedings, it was argued by the counsel for ASI, Advocate Manoj Kumar Singh.
Senior Counsel SFA Naqvi, appearing on behalf of the management committee, however, contended that the ASI was excessively hampering the maintenance work despite the fact that such activities fell under the jurisdiction of the ASI.
The court reassured him that his concerns would be taken into consideration.
The row is over an 11 February 2025 letter from the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of North Sambhal, which suggested that since the mosque is a protected monument, the committee would need to take prior permission from the ASI before undertaking any work of maintenance.
Disobeying the order, the committee approached the High Court, asserting that it had been undertaking the same maintenance work for years without the interference of the authorities.
The committee also argued that the protest by the ASP was unwarranted interference in their religious activities and violated their constitutional rights under Articles 25 and 26, which safeguard the right to follow and manage religious affairs.
The plea also asked the authorities not to obstruct the traditional Azan (call to prayer) and other regular religious ceremonies in the mosque.
