The Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar Temple dispute sees another delay as the Chandausi court postpones the hearing to January 8 due to a Supreme Court stay. The case remains under scrutiny amid ongoing legal and communal sensitivities.
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SAMBHAL: The ongoing Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar Temple dispute witnessed another delay as the Chandausi court deferred its hearing due to a pending petition in the Supreme Court of India. The matter, which has been a subject of legal contention and public debate, is now scheduled to be heard on January 8, 2026.
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The case was listed before Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh, but the hearing could not proceed as a stay has been issued by the Supreme Court. Shakeel Ahmed Warsi, counsel for Shahi Jama Masjid, informed reporters that the postponement was necessary due to the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings.
Background of the Dispute
Hindu petitioners, including advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, filed a suit in the Sambhal district court last year, claiming that the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing temple. Following the filing:
- A court-ordered survey was conducted on November 19, 2025, followed by a second survey on November 24, 2025.
- The second survey sparked violent protests, leading to the tragic death of four people and injuries to 29 police personnel.
- Law enforcement filed charges against SP MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, mosque committee head Zafar Ali, and 2,750 unidentified individuals connected to the violence.
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Legal Challenges and High Court Orders
The Muslim petitioners challenged the maintainability of the dispute in the Allahabad High Court. However, on May 19, 2025, the High Court upheld the trial court’s order permitting the court-monitored survey and directed that the matter proceed.
In August 2025, the Supreme Court intervened and issued a status quo order, temporarily halting further proceedings while hearing the appeal filed by the mosque committee.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Sambhal violence case