Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday designated the Sambhal Jama Masjid as a “disputed site” while hearing a petition filed by the mosque management committee seeking permission for whitewashing the historic structure. The decision came after objections from the Hindu side, which claimed that the mosque was built over a demolished Hindu temple, reported the India Today.
During the proceedings, the Hindu petitioners urged the court to officially recognize the mosque as a “disputed structure” in its records, a request the court accepted. The court further directed the stenographer to use the term “disputed structure” while referring to the mosque in official documents.
The mosque committee had approached the court for approval to carry out maintenance work on the Mughal-era structure. However, the Hindu side opposed the move, arguing that any modifications should be handled by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) due to the ongoing dispute over the site’s history.
This development comes amid a broader legal and political debate surrounding historical religious structures in India. The case is expected to continue as both sides present their arguments in court.
