In the ongoing legal tussle over the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court has deferred the hearing to May 5, 2025. The decision came after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) requested additional time to prepare its response.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, overseeing the case, has allowed a 48-hour window for the filing of a reply to the ASI’s affidavit, followed by an additional week for the Shahi Jama Masjid management committee to submit its rejoinder.
The case revolves around a revision petition by the mosque’s management committee, which contests a previous order from a Sambhal trial court. This order had mandated the appointment of an advocate commissioner to conduct a survey of the mosque premises—a decision that has been temporarily halted by the high court until the specified date.
The origins of the dispute trace back to claims by Hari Shanker Jain and seven other plaintiffs, alleging that the Shahi Jama Masjid was constructed after the demolition of a temple on the same site. These plaintiffs are seeking legal acknowledgment of their right to access the mosque area.
