SAMBHAL (UP), Dec 1: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has provided its submission in a court that approved a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid here, seeking authority and stewardship of the Mughal-era mosque as it is recognized as a protected heritage site.
Vishnu Sharma, representing the ASI, stated in court on Friday that the agency encountered opposition from both the mosque’s management committee and local residents while trying to conduct the surveys at the site.
He noted that the ASI pointed to an incident from January 19, 2018, when an FIR was lodged against the mosque’s management committee for erecting steel railings on the mosque’s steps without the necessary permissions.
The mosque, designated as an ASI-protected monument in 1920, falls under the agency’s jurisdiction, which means that public access to the site should be granted, as long as it complies with ASI regulations, Sharma elaborated.
The ASI insisted that the control and management of the monument, including any structural alterations, must be retained by the agency.
It also expressed concerns regarding unauthorized modifications to the mosque’s structure by the management committee, deeming them illegal and calling for restrictions.
The court is anticipated to consider the issue in the upcoming days.
Violence broke out in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, resulting in four fatalities and numerous injuries.
A three-member judicial commission has been established to investigate the violence, with a visit to Sambhal likely on Sunday.
Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh mentioned, “Two members of the commission formed by the Uttar Pradesh Government arrived here on Saturday. The third member will join them on Sunday as they proceed to Sambhal.”
The survey is associated with a petition asserting that a Harihar temple previously occupied the mosque’s location.
The commission, set up through a notification on November 28, has been instructed to conclude its investigation within two months. Any extensions to this timeline will require governmental approval.
The commission, led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora, includes former IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain.
It has been tasked with determining whether the clashes were spontaneous or orchestrated as part of a criminal conspiracy, along with assessing the readiness of the police and administration in managing the situation.
The commission will also review the events leading to the violence and propose measures to avert similar incidents in the future. (PTI)
