Allahabad HC Stays Hearing In Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Case

The Allahabad High Court halted proceedings in the Shahi Jama Masjid case, ordering all parties to submit replies within one month.

Allahabad High Court stays hearing in Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid violence case.

Source : PTI

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday paused the hearing of the Shahi Jama Masjid case in Sambhal court and asked all the parties to file their reply within one month. 

Hearing a petition filed by the Intezamia Committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal, the single judge bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Aggrawal instructed the lower court to halt the proceedings. The Court asked all the parties to file replies within four weeks. 

On the response of the parties, the Mosque Committee will have to file its rejoinder within two weeks.

The High Court will hear the matter next on February 25 while March 5 has been fixed as the next date for hearing in the local court. 

"The Supreme Court has directed all the lower courts not to entertain new suits seeking surveys of any place of worship until further orders. We have filed a copy of the said order in the court, which fixed March 5 as the next date of hearing," Shakil Ahmad Wari, advocate representing the Muslim side, told reporters, reported PTI.

On the Hindu side's claim that the mosque was built on a temple site, Wari said it was for the court to decide on the matter.

"We will prove in the court that it was not a Harihar temple, but Jama Masjid. We have all the evidence," he said.

Meanwhile, the lawyer representing the Hindu side, Gopal Sharma claimed that the other side has not filed any reply and said, "We filed an application with the court demanding their opportunity to reply should now end. Now the matter will be heard on March 5.”

On November 19, Harishankar Jain and others had moved court claiming the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid had been built on the site where a Harihar temple once stood. The court ordered a survey of the mosque premises which sparked tension in the area leading to violence on November 24. 

The protestors clashed with police during the second survey on November 24 and the ensuing stone-pelting and arson left four persons dead and many others injured.