The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has filed its response in court regarding control and management of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a protected heritage structure. ASI’s legal representative, Vishnu Sharma, confirmed the submission of counterarguments on Friday, noting difficulties faced from the mosque’s committee and local residents during site surveys.
Sharma referenced a January 19, 2018 incident where the mosque’s management committee faced legal action for the unauthorised installation of steel railings. The mosque, designated as an ASI-protected monument in 1920, should allow public access under ASI guidelines.
The ASI maintains that it should retain authority over the monument’s management and structural modifications. The organisation expressed concerns about unauthorised alterations by the management committee, deeming such changes unlawful. The court’s deliberation on this matter is anticipated shortly.
On November 24, a court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal resulted in violent clashes, causing four fatalities and numerous injuries. A judicial commission comprising three members is scheduled to visit Sambhal on Sunday to investigate the incident.
Moradabad divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh confirmed that two commission members arrived on Saturday, with the third member expected to join on Sunday. The survey was conducted following claims about a former Harihar temple at the mosque’s location.
The commission, established through a November 28 notification, operates under a two-month deadline, with extensions requiring governmental approval. Led by retired Allahabad high court judge Devendra Kumar Arora, alongside former officials Amit Mohan Prasad and Arvind Kumar Jain, the commission will investigate whether the violence was spontaneous or premeditated.
Their responsibilities include evaluating police and administrative readiness during the incident, examining factors leading to the violence, and suggesting preventive measures for similar situations.