Lucknow: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Sambhal trial court not to take any action in the case of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal and its survey in Chandausi. Along with this, the Supreme Court has ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to maintain peace and harmony in the violence-affected city. Amidst the tense atmosphere following the violence over the Jama Masjid survey issue, Friday prayers were held peacefully at the Shahi Jama Masjid and other places in the district today. However, in Sambhal, the Supreme Court has given relief to the Hindu side and asked the Muslim side to keep the survey report sealed and secret.
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the proceedings of the Sambhal trial court in the Shahi Jama Masjid case of Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. In this case, the lower court cannot take any action until the mosque committee’s application is listed in the High Court. The Shahi Jama Masjid Committee of Sambhal has challenged the survey order of the lower court in the Supreme Court.
However, the Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar asked the mosque committee to approach the high court as the mosque committee had directly challenged the lower court order in the Supreme Court. Besides, the Supreme Court has also directed the High Court to list the application of the Mosque Committee within three working days.
However, the Supreme Court gave relief to the Muslim side in this case and also gave relief to the Hindu side. The Supreme Court rejected the Muslim side’s demand to stay the filing of the Jama Masjid survey report and said that it will keep the report sealed and confidential. Along with this, the Supreme Court has postponed the further hearing of this case till January 6. The Supreme Court did not give any decision or vote on the petition of Muslim Committee. The trial court of Sambhal was scheduled to hear this matter on Friday, but after the order of the Supreme Court, the hearing has been postponed.
The Supreme Court also said that the district administration will form a peace committee with representatives from all parties. We have to remain completely neutral and ensure that nothing happens. During the hearing of this case, the lawyer of the Muslim side said that there are 10 such cases pending in the entire country, out of which five are in Uttar Pradesh. In such a case, first a case is registered and then a story is fabricated.
On the orders of the lower court, the Advocate Commissioner conducted a survey of Jama Masjid. The survey report was to be presented in the court today. However, it has not been introduced yet. The Jama Masjid of Sambhal is claimed to be actually the Harihar Temple.
Meanwhile, amid tense atmosphere in Sambhal, Muslims offered Friday prayers at Jama Masjid. However, before offering namaz, officials requested local residents to offer namaz in nearby mosques instead of Jama Masjid. Additionally, police personnel installed additional CCTVs to monitor the situation. Drones were also deployed for surveillance and to prevent any possible conflict. Apart from this, internet service was resumed on Friday amid tension of communal violence in the district. District Information Officer Brijesh Kumar said that internet service was started at 4 pm.
