The Supreme Court of India intervened on Friday in the ongoing dispute surrounding a well near the entrance of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, issuing a notice and mandating a status quo. The top court’s decision comes after the mosque’s management committee challenged a local court’s ruling that permitted a survey of the mosque, which allegedly resulted in violence and fatalities.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar presided over the bench that instructed all parties to refrain from taking any action concerning the well until further notice from the court. Authorities have been directed to file a status report within the next two weeks, detailing the current situation.
Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the mosque’s Committee of Management, underscored the historical significance of the well, stating it has been a source of water for the mosque “since time immemorial.” The committee took issue with a recent notice that labeled the well site as “Hari Mandir” and alleged plans to commence religious activities there. Chief Justice Khanna responded firmly, indicating that no such activities would be permitted without the court’s approval.
On the opposing side, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu community, argued that the well lies outside the mosque’s boundaries and has historically been a place of worship. The contention over the well’s location is complicated by claims from both parties regarding its exact boundary, with Ahmadi referencing a Google Maps image to assert that the well straddles the mosque’s entrance.
The dispute escalated following a decision by the Sambhal Senior Division Civil Judge on November 19, 2024, which approved the appointment of an advocate commissioner to survey the mosque. This survey allegedly sparked the aforementioned violence and prompted the mosque management to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention.
