Today, On 9th December, the advocate commissioner Ramesh Singh Raghav requested a 15-day extension to finalize the survey report of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal due to health issues. The report was expected earlier amid legal and public scrutiny following violence linked to the dispute over the mosque’s historical claims.
The Supreme Court will Today (Dec 5) hear a batch of petitions challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, including those that question the validity of certain provisions of the act. The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, also had before it pleas supporting the Act and seeking directions for its proper enforcement.
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) Today (Dec 4) withdrew its plea filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking an independent probe into the alleged police firing and atrocities in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal. The communal clashes took place in Sambhal following a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
Today, On 4th December, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna will preside over petitions contesting the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, aimed at preserving the religious character of places of worship as of August 15, 1947. The case involves multiple petitioners, highlighting significant constitutional and societal debates.
The Allahabad High Court became the epicenter of legal battles surrounding the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. A series of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have been filed, questioning the role of authorities and the actions of the police during the unrest near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, which left five people dead and over 20 police officers injured.
A Sambhal court has directed a commissioner to submit a survey report on the Jama Masjid within 10 days amid claims of a prior temple on the site. The Supreme Court urged maintaining peace and delayed action until an appeal is heard. Violence erupted during surveys, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Next hearing is January 8.
Today, On 29th November, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna requested a postponement of the Shahi Jama Masjid survey hearing, highlighting the need for careful judicial handling of sensitive matters. The Supreme Court instructed the mosque’s management to approach the High Court against a survey order. Violence erupted during a prior survey, raising communal harmony concerns.
The Supreme Court Today (Nov 29) emphasized the need for neutrality and the maintenance of public peace while keeping the petition pending. It has directed the parties to approach the appropriate judicial forum for relief, ensuring that no actions are taken in the trial court proceedings until January 8. The case underscores the sensitivity surrounding religious disputes and the importance of judicial intervention to maintain social harmony.
In Sambhal, recent stone pelting and vandalism sparked condemnation from Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, who urged the Muslim community to adhere to Islam’s peaceful teachings. Amid allegations of political orchestration behind the violence, authorities confirmed control over the situation and pledged action against offenders. A court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid continues amid ongoing legal disputes.
A court-ordered survey was conducted in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, to investigate claims that a mosque was built on the site of an ancient Hindu temple demolished by Mughal emperor Babar in 1529. The Supreme Court lawyer, Vishnu Shankar Jain, named multiple parties in the case, while local MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq opposed the claims.
