New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Friday gave an important decision on the ongoing dispute regarding the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal. The Supreme Court, while placing an interim stay on the proceedings going on in the bench of Civil Judge Senior Division, said that the Mosque Committee can file a petition in the High Court against the order of the Civil Judge. The Supreme Court also directed that the report of the Advocate Commissioner who surveyed the mosque should be kept in a sealed envelope for the time being.
The mosque committee had given the challenge
The Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee had challenged the civil judge’s November 19 order in the Supreme Court. The committee argued that the survey was ordered on the petition of the Hindu side without hearing them. The Advocate Commissioner started the survey on 19 November and the second survey was conducted on 24 November. Due to this haste, tension increased in the area, which turned into violence. Six people lost their lives in this violence.
Supreme Court advised to go to High Court
The Supreme Court bench, which also included Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, advised the mosque committee to adopt appropriate legal options. The bench said, “The Supreme Court is not the right forum for appeal against the order of a civil judge. The petitioner should file a petition in the High Court. The Supreme Court also directed that the High Court should list the hearing of this case within three days and the Civil Judge should stop the proceedings for the time being.
Order to keep survey report sealed
The Supreme Court ordered not to make public the survey report prepared by the Advocate Commissioner and to keep it in a sealed cover. The court said that the matter will be listed again in the week starting January 6.
#WATCH Delhi | On the #Sambhal dispute case, Vishnu Shankar Jain representing the Hindu side says,” SC has asked the mosque committee to approach the High Court. The court also said that till they approach the High Court and the matter is listed, the trial court proceedings… pic.twitter.com/1SP8QkGnMF
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 29, 2024
instructions to maintain peace
The Supreme Court gave strict instructions to the district administration to maintain peace and order in Sambhal. The court said that care should be taken to ensure that no unwanted incident takes place.
