Team Clarion
SAMBHAL – The team set up to survey the historic Jama Masjid in the city has requested an extension of time to submit its report to the Chandusi District Court. The report was due to be submitted on Friday.
Shakeel Ahmad Wasim, the lawyer representing the Shahi Jama Masjid Committee, explained the situation, saying, “We appeared before the court on behalf of the mosque and requested copies of the documents related to the case be provided to us. The court agreed and ordered that these documents be shared. However, the survey report was not submitted today. The survey team has asked for more time to submit the report. There will be no further surveys of the mosque now.”
Tension has been high in the region, and security has been heightened as a precaution. Police forces across the district remain on alert. Stringent security arrangements have been put in place at the Chandusi District Court, with heavy personnel deployed and individuals entering the premises being thoroughly checked.
The delay in the submission of the survey report comes amidst ongoing concerns related to recent violence. In response to the unrest, the Uttar Pradesh government has set up a judicial commission to investigate the events surrounding the violence. The commission, which will be led by retired High Court judge DK Arora, has been tasked with thoroughly examining the causes and details of the disturbances and submitting a report.
Sources close to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s office indicated that the commission is under pressure to present its findings quickly so that the matter can be taken up in court. The violence, which erupted following the survey of Jama Masjid, has sparked a political debate. While the government insists that the violence was organised, opposition parties have claimed that the disturbances were triggered by objectionable slogans raised by members of some Hindu organisations during the survey process.
The judicial commission will look into several aspects of the violence and provide a detailed report to the Home Department. This report will then be reviewed by the High Court, which will decide on the necessary actions moving forward.