The Allahabad High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake cleaning work at the premises of Jama Masjid in Sambhal. However, the court did not grant permission to whitewash the mosque, as requested by the mosque management committee.
The order was issued by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal in response to an application submitted by the Committee of Management, Jama Masjid. The committee had sought authorization for whitewashing and cleaning the mosque ahead of the holy month of Ramzan. Their plea also included requests for lighting arrangements within the mosque premises.
Before this order, on Thursday, the court had instructed the ASI to carry out an immediate inspection of the mosque. The court further directed the ASI to appoint a team comprising three officers to thoroughly examine the site. The ASI team was required to submit a detailed report regarding the condition of the mosque premises by 10 AM on Friday.
Following the court’s directive, the ASI conducted its inspection and presented its findings the next day. According to the ASI’s report, the interior walls of the mosque are already covered with ceramic paint, and there is no immediate requirement for whitewashing at this stage. Based on this assessment, the court did not permit the whitewashing work to proceed.
During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate S.F.A. Naqvi represented the mosque committee and reiterated that their primary request was limited to whitewashing and the installation of appropriate lighting within the mosque premises. However, after reviewing the ASI’s report, the court chose to allow only the cleaning of the premises, instructing the ASI to remove accumulated dust and overgrown grass from the mosque complex.
Advocate Naqvi assured the court that the cleaning work would be carried out smoothly and without any disruptions. Meanwhile, the Advocate General representing the state government assured the bench that law and order would be strictly maintained during the cleaning process.
With this ruling, the court has ensured that while the mosque premises will be cleaned, the structural and aesthetic integrity of the site, as determined by the ASI, will be preserved. The judgment reflects the court’s effort to strike a balance between maintaining heritage structures and addressing the requests of the mosque management in a lawful and orderly manner.