New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has accused the administration of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal of encroaching on government land, further intensifying a long-standing religious dispute. In a status report submitted to the Supreme Court, the state government alleged that the mosque committee misrepresented images of a well near the 16th-century mosque to establish ownership.
The mosque has been embroiled in controversy after a petition by the Hindu community claimed that the site housed a Hindu temple, “Hari Har Mand.” This led to a court-ordered survey, which triggered violent clashes in the region.
According to the government’s report, both the mosque and the well stand on government land, and the mosque authorities are allegedly attempting to claim private ownership over them. The report emphasized that the well has historically served the entire community and is not linked to the disputed religious site.
The mosque committee had presented a Google Maps image to support its claim that the well falls within mosque premises. However, the government dismissed this as a “misconception,” stating that the well is part of a broader initiative to restore 19 wells in Sambhal for cultural tourism and rainwater conservation.
Last month, the Supreme Court imposed a status quo order, halting a notice that permitted religious rituals at the well. While the court allowed public use of the well, it prohibited religious ceremonies there.
Meanwhile, the mosque committee has sought permission for renovations ahead of Ramadan, but District Magistrate Rajendra Pansiya clarified that such work requires prior approval from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The dispute has escalated following violent clashes that erupted after a local court’s survey order, resulting in multiple fatalities. As legal, religious, and political tensions mount, the controversy over Shahi Jama Masjid remains one of the most sensitive issues in the region, with the Muslim community voicing concerns over religious rights and heritage.
