Allahabad HC Orders Cleaning Of Sambhal Mosque Premises As ASI Says Whitewashing Not Needed; Masjid Committee To File Objections

Following the Thursday directions of the Allahabad High Court, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today submitted an inspection report stating that the Shahi Jama Mosque in Sambhal does not require whitewashing ahead of Ramadan/Ramzan, as the entire mosque is covered with enamel paint that is in good condition.On the mosque management committee's insistence that whitewashing is necessary and that the ASI report is incorrect, a bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal granted the committee time until Tuesday to file its response or objections to the ASI report.In the meantime, the court has directed the ASI to undertake the cleaning work of the mosque premises, including the removal of dust and vegetation both inside and around the area. The court has asked the Masjid committee not to put any hindrance and to cooperate in the work of ASI."ASI will carry out the day to day maintenance, such as, cleaning, removal of dust and removal of vegetation growth in and around the monument forthwith. It is expected from Masjid Committee that they would not put any hindrance and would cooperate in the work of ASI. It is further made clear that no person from the administration would interfere when the cleaning work is being done by ASI," HC's order reads.Advocate General Ajay Kumar Misra also assured the Court that law and order would be maintained when the cleaning work was being conducted by ASI.It may be noted that on Thursday, the HC asked the ASI to inspect the Sambhal's Shahi Jama Mosque to assess the need for whitewashing and maintenance/repair work (at the site) ahead of the Ramzan month. The order was passed on the application filed by the Management Committee of the mosque challenging the respondents' objections regarding the mosque's whitewashing work.Before the Court, Senior Counsel SFA Naqvi, representing the Management Committee, argued that the ASI was unnecessarily objecting to the whitewashing work despite the fact that it was the ASI's responsibility to carry out such work. In response, the ASI's counsel, Advocate Manoj Kumar Singh, stated that ASI officials were not being allowed access to the mosque premises by the committee officials.The Committee's application was opposed by Advocate Har Shankar Jain (respondent no. 1) as he submitted that in the garb of whitewashing, the Hindu artefacts allegedly present inside the Mosque would be defaced. For context, the Management Committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal, moved the High Court following a response from the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) North Sambhal objecting to its proposal for maintenance work planned for the mosque ahead of the upcoming Ramzan.Essentially, the committee had earlier informed the concerned authorities about its intention to carry out essential maintenance work at the mosque in preparation for the holy month of Ramzan, beginning on March 1, 2025.The planned work includes whitewashing, cleansing, repairing, covering in areas, and installing additional lighting to ensure a smooth experience for devotees during the fasting month.The committee also requested the official authorities that no restrictions be placed on the traditional Azan (call to prayer) and maintenance activities, which they claim, are part of the mosque's regular upkeep.However, in a letter dated February 11, 2025, the ASP stated that since the Masjid is a protected monument, permission must be obtained from the Archaeological Survey of India by the Management Committee before any work could be carried out.Challenging this letter and reply, the Management Committee has moved the HC, stating that it has been undertaking similar maintenance activities (inter alia, cleaning, whitewashing, and installation of lights) during Ramzan month and other religious occasions in the past.It is the case of the committee that these works have always been carried out by them and not by the ASI, and there has been no interference from the authorities in the past many years.Case title - Committee Of Management, Jami Masjid Sambhal Ahmed Marg Kot Sambhal vs. Hari Shankar Jain And 12 Others [CIVIL REVISION No. - 4 of 2025]Click Here To Read/Download Order

Allahabad HC Orders Cleaning Of Sambhal Mosque Premises As ASI Says Whitewashing Not Needed; Masjid Committee To File Objections

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