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NEW DELHI: A previously issued notice regarding the Sambhal Mosque survey has come to light, indicating that mosque authorities had been informed about the survey in advance.
Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Singh issued the notice on November 23, a day before the survey began. The Sambhal Masjid Committee’s lawyer received it at 6:30 PM that outlined the legal guidelines for the proceedings, ensuring that all parties were properly informed and present.
The survey was conducted following a court order from a Civil Judge, who directed an investigation into claims by Kalka Devi Temple’s mahant, Rishi Raj Giri.
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During the proceedings on Sunday, clashes between protesters and police resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to 20 police personnel. Authorities have since detained 21 accused in connection with the violence.
Giri alleged that the mosque was constructed after a temple was demolished in 1526. The court required a survey report by November 29, prompting swift action by the advocate commissioner and local authorities.
The survey, which included video and photographic documentation, proceeded under tight security. Members of the mosque committee, legal representatives, and administrative officials participated.
Despite initial unrest as news spread among locals, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar collaborated with Muslim clerics to maintain peace.
Authorities assured the public that communal harmony would be preserved and warned against spreading misinformation or rumours.
The notice emphasized procedural compliance, with Advocate Commissioner Singh supervising for three hours. Locked upper rooms prevented full access, leading to an adjournment and scheduling of remaining proceedings for November 24.
While the petitioner, Giri, claims evidence of the mosque’s construction over a temple, the mosque’s lawyer, Zafar Ali, criticized the hurried survey and suggested the possibility of challenging the court order in the High Court. Samajwadi Party MP Zia-Ur-Rehman Birk condemned the move, citing the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which mandates maintaining the status of religious sites as of 1947.
The case has sparked intense debate, with legal and religious implications at the forefront. Authorities continue to focus on balancing legal directives and communal peace in Sambhal.
