By Javed Ahmed
Jaunpur News: The Jaunpur district's Senior Division Court has scheduled 16 December for a decision on the petition seeking a survey of the Atala Mosque, allegedly built after demolishing the Atala Devi temple. The petition, filed by the Swaraj Vahini Association, seeks permission for Hindus to offer prayers at the site.
The Hindu side, represented by lawyer Ram Singh, requested a site survey with adequate police protection. According to the petition, the Atala Mosque was originally the Atala Devi temple, constructed in the 13th century by Raja Vijay Chandra and later converted into a mosque by Firoz Shah Tughlaq after his conquest of Jaunpur.
The Muslim side alleged that the Hindu petitioners were conducting a media trial to influence proceedings. Ram Singh, responding to the accusations, stated, “Media is independent, and no interference can be made in its functioning.”
Lawyer Ram Singh told news agency ANI, "The court has made no decision today, only the matter was heard. The order is reserved for December 16..."
Jaunpur News: Atala Mosque Case
The matter has been under legal scrutiny since the Jaunpur District Judge approved the case's maintainability on 12 August this year. Earlier, the Civil Judge of the district court registered the case on 29 May and initiated hearings. Swaraj Vahini Association’s Uttar Pradesh President, Santosh Kumar Mishra, had filed the original case in the Jaunpur district court, claiming the mosque stands on the ruins of a demolished temple.
The case echoes the controversy surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, where survey-related disputes have reached the Supreme Court. Due to the pending decision, hearings in the Allahabad High Court have also been delayed.
The Allahabad High Court will conduct a separate hearing on 16 December, requiring the Swaraj Vahini organisation to file its response.