By The Sampadak Express
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted the Committee of Management of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal two weeks to respond to a status report submitted by the Uttar Pradesh government, which claims that a disputed well lies entirely outside the mosque premises.
The well in question, located near the entrance of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid, has become the center of a religious dispute, with a Hindu group asserting that the structure is actually a temple. The top court had earlier ordered the district magistrate to maintain status quo and not permit any prayers or activity at the site.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Natraj, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, told a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar that the well is not part of the mosque compound.
Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque committee, sought an extension of three weeks to file a response, citing that the committee’s president, Zafar Ali, is currently in jail. Ali was arrested on March 23 in connection with violence during a protest against a court-ordered survey of the mosque.
However, the CJI refused to extend the timeline and remarked, “Take a ‘mulaqat’ (jail meeting) and do it. Somebody else can also file the response. Please do it in two weeks only.” The court deferred further hearing on the matter.
The case has drawn national attention due to its sensitive nature, with notices previously issued to the Centre, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and various private parties from the Hindu side, led by advocate Hari Shankar Jain.
