Allahabad High Court Calls For The Original 1927 Agreement Between The Administration And Sambhal Jama Masjid Mosque Committee
The Allahabad High Court took up the matter concerning the whitewashing of the Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district on Monday, March 10, 2025. During the hearing, the court directed the counsel representing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to provide specific arguments regarding what harm or prejudice would be caused by whitewashing the mosque’s outer walls. The court sought a clear and precise response on this aspect.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal issued this directive while considering an objection raised by the mosque committee. The committee had stated that it had merely requested permission for whitewashing and installing lighting on the external side of the mosque. However, it alleged that the ASI had not provided a specific response to this request. The ASI’s submissions, the committee argued, had been focused only on the interior of the mosque rather than the exterior walls, which was the primary concern in the present case.
Advocate S.F.A. Naqvi, appearing on behalf of the mosque committee, contended before the court that the committee had not sought any modifications to the mosque’s interior. Instead, their request was limited to the external façade, which, according to them, required maintenance. He pointed out that the ASI had only made submissions regarding the interior, leaving the issue of the outer walls unaddressed.
During the proceedings, the court took cognizance of an earlier report submitted by the ASI on February 28, 2025. The ASI’s report stated that the interior of the mosque had been painted with ceramic color and, as such, did not require any additional whitewashing at the present moment. However, this did not address the concern regarding the exterior, which was the subject of the mosque committee’s request.
In response to the ASI’s stance, Mr. Naqvi reiterated that the committee had made no request related to the mosque’s interior. He clarified that their demand was strictly for whitewashing and installing proper lighting on the external walls to enhance the mosque’s appearance and upkeep. Given this, the court deemed it necessary for the ASI to present a concrete and well-substantiated explanation as to why the whitewashing of the outer walls should not be permitted.
Apart from this, the court also directed the District Magistrate of Sambhal to produce the original agreement that had been executed in the year 1927 between the administration and the mosque committee. This agreement pertained to the formal handover of the Jama Masjid to the ASI, and the court expressed the need to examine its contents to gain better clarity on the matter.
Furthermore, the High Court instructed the ASI to take immediate steps to clean the premises of the mosque. Specifically, the ASI was asked to ensure the removal of accumulated dust and overgrown grass within the mosque’s premises, indicating the court’s concern regarding the proper maintenance and preservation of the historic site.
After issuing these directions, the court scheduled the next hearing on the matter for March 12, 2025. It is expected that by then, the ASI will submit a more detailed and specific response regarding its objections to the whitewashing of the mosque’s external walls, as well as comply with the court’s other directives.
