The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition this Friday, challenging the November 19 order of a district court in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, which directed a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque.
The petition has been filed by the Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, seeking an ex-parte stay on the execution of the district court’s order. According to the petition, the sudden and swift survey, which was conducted with minimal notice, has fueled communal tensions in the region. The plea argues that the hasty actions and the “barely six hours’ notice” for the second survey have sparked unrest and pose a threat to the country’s secular fabric.
The tensions in Sambhal escalated on November 19, when the survey was conducted following claims that a Harihar temple once stood at the mosque’s location. The situation worsened on November 24, when violence erupted during protests near the mosque. Clashes with police resulted in lathi charge stone-pelting and arson, leaving four people dead and many others injured.
The petitioners argue that the speed at which these surveys were carried out has dangerously escalated the situation, calling for immediate intervention to prevent further violence. The case is expected to be heard by a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna on November 29.
