The Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee, on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking direction to the District Magistrate to ensure that status quo is maintained with respect to the private well situated near the stairs/entrance of the mosque.

The mosque committee has also sought direction to the DM not to take any steps/actions with regard to the investigation of the well, and open the well-located at the entrance of the mosque structure without due permission from the top court.

Advertisement

The application seeking the direction to the DM has stated “District Administration, Sambhal is conducting a purported drive to revive old temples and wells in the city with reports indicating that at least 32 old unused temples have been revived and 19 wells have been identified which are being made operational for public prayers/use.” .

It further says “The District Administration, in its purported drive for the so-called revival of old temples and wells, is giving publicity to the proposed public access being granted to the use of the well, claiming the said wells to have religious significance” and the posters have also been put up around Sambhal and near the mosque indicating the location of historical wells and therein the mosque has been shown as a temple.

Apprehending mischief that the status quo in respect of the well at the entrance of the mosque may be disturbed and prayers and rituals by the Hindus may be permitted there, the committee has said that on December 16, 2024, it has given a legal notice to the District Administration in this regard.

“The DM has stated, as per news reports, that the well is not within the mosque and the interim order passed by this court is only with respect to things inside the mosque. While the petitioner disputes this, what is apparent is that the said private well is situated at the entrance of the mosque and partly inside it, and opening the same for the Hindu prayers will result in mischief and disturb the fragile harmony and peace in the area at the moment,” says the application.

The actions of the District Administration, the application says, are in no manner aimed towards maintaining peace and harmony as directed by the top court, although an assurance in this regard was given by the Uttar Pradesh government, as reflected in the order of November 29, 2024.

The petitioner mosque committee has urged the top court to direct the Administration not to disturb the status quo as prevailing with regard to the private well of the mosque and not to open the same to Hindu prayers.

On November 29, 2024, the top court had asked Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh government to ensure “peace and harmony” in Sambhal and directed the trial court not to proceed in the suit against the Shahi mosque, till the petition to be filed by the Masjid Committee against the survey order is listed for hearing by the Allahabad High Court.

Stating “We don’t want anything to happen. Peace and harmony have to be maintained”, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar had ordered a pause to the trial court proceedings and directed that the report of the advocate commissioner, if any, who was asked to conduct the survey of the mosque, should be kept in a sealed cover and should not be opened in the meantime.

Sambhal had witnessed a wide widespread violence resulting in the death of four people, after a local court ordered a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 19, 2024.

The local court ordered the survey after a petition was filed by some people claiming that the site of the mosque was previously a Harihar temple, dedicated to Kalki, the last incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and built in 1526 after demolishing the temple.