The Allahabad High Court issued notices to the Centre and the ASI on a plea challenging an Agra court’s refusal to order a survey of the Taj Mahal. The petitioners claim the monument was originally the Tejo Mahalaya temple and seek an Advocate Commissioner’s inspection.
The Allahabad High Court issued notices to the UP government, Central ministries, ASI and other authorities over the poor condition of thousands of heritage structures across the State. The Court was hearing a PIL stating that over 4,900 historic buildings in Uttar Pradesh are unprotected and on the verge of disappearance.
Today, On 1st April, The Supreme Court declined to hear a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order on the whitewashing of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. The High Court had directed the ASI to carry out the whitewashing, with the costs to be borne by the mosque committee. The decision follows tensions that arose after a mosque survey led to riots last year. The whitewashing process has already begun as per the High Court’s mandate.
The Allahabad High Court granted interim protection to the 17th-century Shahi Hammam in Agra, responding to a Public Interest Litigation that emphasized its national importance. The Court directed the Archaeological Survey of India and local authorities to prevent demolition. Local residents face threats from developers, highlighting the urgency of preservation efforts.
Amid the row over a Rajasthan court admitting a petition that claims that the Ajmer Sharif dargah was built over a Shiva temple, AIMIM leader and MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said the dargah goes back 800 years and asked, “Where will this stop?”. “That Dargah goes back 800 years, during the reign of Alauddin Khalji; it’s mentioned in Amir Khusro’s book from the 13th century and 800 years later, you are saying it’s not a dargah. What will remain?” he said in a press conference.
The ASI filed an affidavit in response to a lawsuit accusing the Jama Masjid Management Committee of obstructing monument inspections. Despite sporadic assessments with district support, the ASI noted significant unauthorized alterations to the Shahi Jama Masjid. The Supreme Court has temporarily halted proceedings regarding the mosque’s survey until further review by the Allahabad High Court.
The Ajmer Dargah chief criticized recent claims about mosques and highlighted the tragic consequences of such disputes, referencing a recent incident in Sambhal where five died. He accused petitioners of seeking personal interests. Concerns were raised about rising communal tensions linked to court rulings challenging the status of religious sites, primarily by Hindu groups.
![[Gyanvapi Case] 'Utilize Non-Invasive Methodology': SC's 2023 Verdict Boosts Survey Orders for Disputed Sites](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-3-2.jpg?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in the Gyanvapi case legitimized surveys of disputed religious sites, providing a precedent for similar cases. The decision, permitting the Archaeological Survey of India to investigate the mosque complex, has incited claims over additional contested worship places, leading to escalating tensions and legal disputes across the country.