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Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday extended the interim order in the case concerning the disputed Jami Masjid in Sambhal, directing that the matter be heard afresh on March 10.

Court took note of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) commencing cleaning work at the site, as per its previous directions.

The bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal acknowledged submissions from the counsel representing the disputed mosque’s management, the State, and ASI, with Advocate General Ajay Kumar Mishra affirming that law and order around the structure has been maintained. Court also recorded objections filed against the ASI report and supplementary affidavits submitted by both parties.

Meanwhile, the ASI informed the court that the cleaning work had already begun, which was not contested by the disputed mosque's management’s counsel. The high court directed its office to locate a notarized affidavit submitted on March 3 by respondent Adv Hari Shankar Jain, which, according to him, was missing from the records. The matter has now been scheduled for further hearing on March 10, with the interim order continuing until then.

Court passed the order while hearing a plea from the mosque’s management committee, which sought permission for maintenance, cleaning, whitewashing, and lighting work ahead of Ramzan.

Notably, the site is contested as both a mosque and a temple, with Hindu plaintiffs pursuing a civil suit to assert their right to access what they call the Shri Hari Har Temple, currently identified as Jami Masjid.

The mosque committee's plea was opposed by Advocate Hari Shanker Jain who alleged that under the guise of maintenance, the mosque committee could erase artefacts and symbols indicating the site's Hindu origins.

Case Title: Committee Of Management, Jami Masjid Sambhal Ahmed Marg Kot Sambhal Vs. Hari Shankar Jain And 12 Others