The Allahabad High Court, on Wednesday, stayed the Sambhal trial court proceedings till February 25 in the case of Chandausi’s Shahi Jama mosque purported to be a Harihar temple.
A single bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal passed the order on a civil revision plea moved by the Shahi Jama Mosque Committee challenging the trial court’s order passed on November 19 directing an Advocate Commissioner to conduct a survey of the mosque based on a suit claiming that the mosque was built after destroying a temple.
The high court has called for the responses of the Union of India, the Archaeological Survey of India( ASI), the UP government, the district magistrate concerned and all the plaintiffs of the suit within two weeks.
The matter will be taken up for hearing by the court on February 25 next.
Earlier, the Supreme Court, while staying the trial court proceedings in the matter in November last year, directed the lower court not to proceed with the case till the petition filed by the Masjid Committee against the survey order is listed in the Allahabad High Court.
Sambhal Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh had ordered the survey by court commissioner on November 19 on a suit filed by eight plaintiffs, including Mahant Rishiraj Giri, who claimed that the mosque in question was built in 1526 after demolishing a temple that stood there. The survey triggered violence on November 24, which left four persons killed.
According to the Hindu Plaintiffs, the mosque in question was originally the site of an ancient temple (Hari Har Temple) dedicated to Kalki, the last avatar of Lord Vishnu. In 1526, on the orders of
Mughal Ruler Babar, the temple was partly demolished and converted into a mosque.
Meanwhile, the Chandausi court on Wednesday posted the case to March 5.
The Jama Masjid side presented a copy of the Supreme Court order in the local court. The Muslim side said as per the order of the apex court, no hearing can be held on this matter right now. After which the court fixed the next hearing on March 5.
Earlier on January 2, the survey report of the Jama Masjid was filed in the court by the court commissioner. This report was presented in a sealed envelope. The court commissioner said a 43-page survey report has been presented regarding the evidence found in the Shahi Jama Masjid during the survey.
Besides, about 60 photographs were also presented in the court along with the survey report in support of the facts found.