The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a petition challenging the Allahabad High Court order directing the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to whitewash the exterior walls of Shahi Jama Masjid, situated in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar passed the order on a petition filed by one Satish Kumar Aggarwal, challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict of March this year, which directed the ASI to carry out the whitewashing of the Jama Masjid at Chandausi (Sambhal), in accordance with the agreement signed in 1927 between the mosque management committee and the ASI.
The ASI was ordered to carry out whitewashing on those parts where it was required. The High Court further directed the mosque committee to reimburse ASI for the costs incurred in the whitewashing within one week of the work being completed.
The committee sought permission to whitewash and clean the mosque before the holy month of Ramzan.
Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Barun Sinha submitted that the High Court was wrong in asking the ASI to whitewash the walls of Sambhal mosque.
The Apex Court is also seized of a petition filed by the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee challenging the trial court order passed on November 19, 2024, directing an Advocate Commissioner to survey the mosque.
The trial court passed the order on a suit, which claimed that the Mughal era structure was built after destroying an ancient temple.