Supreme Court Hears Sambhal Mosque Dispute as Judicial Inquiry Begins
- Posted on November 29, 2024
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
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The Supreme Court is hearing a plea against a controversial survey of Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid. After violent clashes, a judicial inquiry was launched to investigate the incident. The case raises concerns over procedural fairness and communal harmony in disputes over religious sites.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition from the management of Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid, challenging a district court's order for a survey of the mosque, claimed to be on the site of a historic Harihar temple. The plea highlights procedural concerns, alleging the survey was conducted in undue haste, sparking communal tensions.
The mosque dispute has escalated since the survey was carried out on November 19. Violence erupted on November 24 during protests, resulting in four deaths, injuries to several individuals, and significant property damage. Following these events, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel established a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, led by retired Justice Devendra Kumar Arora, to investigate the incident. The panel includes retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain.
The commission's mandate is to determine whether the violence was premeditated and assess the adequacy of the district’s law enforcement response. It has been given two months to submit its findings, with a possible extension if needed.
Meanwhile, the mosque's management committee has sought an ex-parte stay on the district court’s survey order, arguing that such actions without prior notice could inflame communal tensions and undermine the nation’s secular fabric. The plea urges the Supreme Court to ensure judicial processes are followed before authorizing surveys in disputed religious sites.
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The Supreme Court’s decision will likely set a precedent for similar disputes, as tensions around places of worship remain a sensitive issue in India.
