New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 11, deferred the hearing on petitions challenging the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, to August 18.
The petitions have been filed by the Committee of Management of the Sambhal Jama Masjid against an Allahabad High Court order that upheld the lower court’s decision to allow a survey of the mosque.
What is the case about?
- The dispute began after a civil suit was filed in a Sambhal court seeking a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The petitioners on the Hindu side have claimed that the mosque was built at a site associated with the Harihar temple.
- On November 19, 2024, the local civil court appointed an Advocate Commissioner to conduct a survey of the mosque. The survey led to tensions and violence in Sambhal later that month.
- The Supreme Court subsequently directed the local court not to proceed with the matter until the mosque committee approached the appropriate higher court. It also said that any survey report should remain sealed and that the court was not expressing an opinion on the merits of the dispute.
Allahabad High Court upheld survey order
- The mosque management committee challenged the survey order before the Allahabad High Court.
- On May 19, 2025, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the committee’s challenge and upheld the lower court’s order relating to the survey. The committee subsequently approached the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision.
- The mosque committee has argued before the Supreme Court that the survey order was legally improper and that the matter should not have proceeded in the manner it did. One of its concerns is that the survey order was issued without giving the committee an adequate opportunity to present its case.
Why August 18 is important
- The Supreme Court’s next hearing on August 18 could provide further direction on the legal challenge to the survey order and the proceedings before the lower courts.
- The court has not yet decided the underlying dispute over the religious character or historical status of the site. The current proceedings concern the legality of the survey related orders and the challenges brought by the mosque management committee.
Background to the 2024 violence
- The mosque survey became a major law and order issue in November 2024. Violence broke out in Sambhal during the survey process, resulting in deaths and injuries.
- The Supreme Court had subsequently stressed the need to maintain peace and harmony while directing the parties to pursue their legal remedies before the appropriate courts.
- The case remains closely watched because it involves questions surrounding a historic religious site, the scope of court ordered surveys and the legal protections governing places of worship.
