The Supreme Court extended its status quo order by two weeks in the contentious Sambhal mosque dispute in Uttar Pradesh, halting developments in the ongoing legal battle over the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple. The decision came during a hearing by a bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Radhe, addressing appeals filed by the Committee of Management Jami Masjid Sambhal, represented by its secretary and vice president.

The court directed its registry to investigate the matter and submit a detailed report, prompting the extension to maintain stability until the report is reviewed. Senior advocate Huzeifa Ahmadi, representing the mosque committee, argued for the extension, while advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the Hindu plaintiffs, opposed it, seeking to move forward with the case.

The dispute stems from a November 19, 2024, order by a Sambhal civil court for a survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid, which was conducted the same day. The mosque committee challenged this in the Allahabad High Court, which upheld the civil court’s decision and dismissed the committee’s plea, affirming the survey and the suit’s maintainability. The committee also contested a second survey on November 24, 2024, claiming it was unauthorized as no court order supported it.

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The Supreme Court’s intervention follows heightened tensions in Sambhal, where the mosque-temple dispute has fueled legal and communal debates. The status quo order aims to prevent escalation while the court evaluates the registry’s findings, delaying further action in a case that has drawn significant attention in Uttar Pradesh.

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