The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its judgment on a plea challenging the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The petition has been filed by the mosque management committee against the proceedings initiated pursuant to an order directing an Advocate Commissioner to undertake a survey of the disputed premises.
The dispute emanates from a civil suit filed by Hindu petitioners claiming that the mosque stands at a site where a Hindu temple allegedly existed. Acting on the suit, the Sambhal trial court had, in November 2024, appointed an Advocate Commissioner to conduct a local inspection of the mosque. The order was subsequently subjected to challenge before the Allahabad High Court, which declined to interfere, following which the mosque committee approached the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, the Bench examined the statutory and legal framework governing the dispute, including the scope of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The proceedings also involved questions concerning the relationship between the 1991 Act and the statutory regime applicable to protected monuments, besides the circumstances in which a local commission or survey can be ordered at the stage of adjudication of a civil suit.
The mosque committee has questioned the maintainability and legal basis of the proceedings seeking to alter or determine the religious character of the site, relying upon the statutory protection accorded to places of worship under the 1991 legislation.
After hearing the submissions advanced by the contesting parties, the Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on the challenge to the survey proceedings.
The post Supreme Court reserves verdict on plea challenging survey of Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid appeared first on India Legal.