Hearing in Allahabad High Court continues over mosque committee’s request; Judge seeks copy of 1927 agreement
Team India
LUCKNOW — The Allahabad High Court has questioned the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) over its reluctance to allow the painting of the outer wall of Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh city of Sambhal. During the hearing on Monday (March 10), the court specifically asked ASI’s counsel to clarify the concerns regarding the request made by the mosque committee.
“What is the objection to painting the mosque’s outer wall?” Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal asked, responding to the grievances raised by the mosque committee.
The mosque committee had sought permission to repaint the mosque’s outer wall ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a practice followed annually. However, the ASI has not provided a clear response to this request. Senior advocate SFA Naqvi, representing the mosque committee, pointed out that ASI officials were only discussing the interior walls of the mosque while avoiding a response on the outer walls.
To clarify the mosque’s historical status, the court has directed the District Magistrate of Sambhal to present the original copy of the 1927 agreement between the mosque committee and the administration on the next hearing on Wednesday. This agreement, signed nearly a century ago, had placed the mosque under the ASI’s supervision.
In an earlier report, the ASI claimed that ceramic paint had been used inside the mosque and that further whitewashing was unnecessary. However, the court had already directed the ASI to clean dust and overgrown grass within the mosque premises.
The controversy over the Shahi Jama Masjid escalated after a local court in Sambhal ordered the mosque’s survey. Violence erupted as the survey team was accompanied by a group of Hindutva supporters, who shouted anti-Muslim slogans. The violence and the subsequent police action resulted in the tragic loss of at least five lives. Over 80 individuals have been arrested on charges of instigating the violence.
Every year, the mosque is traditionally painted before Ramadan, but this time, objections from the administration halted the process, leading to the legal battle now unfolding in the high court.
The issue has caused deep unrest among Muslims in Sambhal and beyond. Maulana Shafiq ur Rahman, a prominent cleric, said, “This is not just about painting a wall. It is about our right to maintain our places of worship. Why are such objections raised only when it concerns mosques?”
Community leader Mohammad Rizwan echoed similar concerns. “The ASI has a responsibility to preserve heritage, not to create unnecessary hurdles. This mosque has been repainted every year, so why is there an issue now?” he said.
Social activist Dr Farhat Jameel warned that targeting religious sites in this manner could lead to further unrest. “The government must ensure that such issues do not escalate into communal tensions. The mosque committee is simply asking for something that has been a tradition for decades,” she said.
Locals, especially traders and shopkeepers around the mosque, fear that the ongoing legal battle could disrupt peace in the area. Many have urged authorities to allow the repainting and resolve the matter amicably.
The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. The Muslim community anticipates the court’s decision, continuing to demand clarity and fairness in the ASI’s stance.
