The ongoing dispute between the Shahi Jama Masjid and the Harihar Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district has captured public attention once more. Although a hearing was slated for Thursday in Chandausi Civil Court, it was deferred by the judge to August 28, awaiting further deliberations. This matter was listed under the jurisdiction of Civil Judge (Senior Division), Aditya Singh's court.
Representing the Hindu side, lawyer Gopal Sharma shared that during Thursday's proceedings, the Muslim side filed an application stating that the issue is already pending in the Supreme Court, thereby questioning the jurisdiction of the lower court to proceed. Subsequent to this objection, the court has deferred the hearing to August 28.
The application put forth by the Muslim side referenced decisions tied to the Places of Worship Act. Shahi Jama Masjid's advocate, Qasim Jamal, stipulated that the Supreme Court had clearly decreed that until the matter is resolved there, no other court should deliberate over such religious disputes.
High Court Upholds Lower Court’s Order
Qasim Jamal articulated that proceeding with a hearing in the lower court would contravene Supreme Court directives. Noteworthy is the Muslim side's challenge to the maintainability of the dispute in Allahabad High Court; however, as of May 19, the High Court upheld the lower court's decision.
Source: aajtak
Objections to Be Filed by August 28
The current order allows the court to carry out a survey under supervision and mandates progressing with the hearing. The lower court urged all parties to file any objections by August 28. This controversy erupted last year on November 19, when claims surfaced that the mosque is actually a temple.
November 24, 2024: Survey Sparks Major Unrest
On the survey conducted on November 24, 2024, prominent Hindu petitioners, including advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, argued that the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid is indeed situated on land originally belonging to the Harihar Temple. The court had ordered a survey on the very same day. Another survey followed on November 24 resulting in widespread tension among the Sambhal populace.
Source: aajtak
Unrest Erupts in Sambhal: Casualties Reported
The situation escalated, leading to violence and resulting in four fatalities. Among the injured were twenty-nine police officers, along with several civilians. In the aftermath, police adopted stringent measures, including lodging FIRs against 2,750 unidentified individuals, along with charges against SP MP Ziaur Rahman Burk and the mosque committee’s leader Zafar Ali.
