Supreme Court intervened in the contentious Sambhal mosque controversy, ordering a status quo until August 25 and issuing a notice to the Hindu petitioners claiming rights over the site. The decision, delivered by a bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar, has temporarily halted proceedings in the escalating dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.

The apex court was responding to an appeal by the mosque committee challenging an Allahabad High Court ruling. The high court had dismissed the committee’s plea against a civil court’s order for a survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid, deeming both the survey and the underlying suit maintainable. The civil judge’s order, issued on November 19, 2024, led to a survey conducted the same day, which the mosque committee argued was hastily executed. Further fueling the controversy, a second survey on November 24, 2024, was conducted without any explicit court directive, prompting the committee to label it illegal.

The Sambhal dispute centers on competing claims over the historical site, with Hindu petitioners asserting that the mosque stands on land historically linked to the Harihar Temple. The mosque committee, however, maintains that the surveys infringe on their rights and lack legal grounding, particularly the unauthorized second survey. The Supreme Court’s status quo order now pauses further actions, providing a brief respite as both sides await the next hearing.

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This case has sparked widespread debate, with local communities and legal experts closely watching the outcome. The Supreme Court’s notice to the Hindu petitioners signals a deeper examination of the claims, potentially setting a precedent for similar disputes across India. For now, all eyes are on August 25, when the court will revisit the matter, possibly shaping the future of this sensitive issue.

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