Allahabad High Court Upholds Survey Order in Mosque-Temple Dispute

The Allahabad High Court has ruled against the Masjid committee's plea concerning a survey ordered by a Sambhal court in the ongoing dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple. The court confirmed the validity of the survey and the lawsuit, which claims that the mosque was built after demolishing a temple. This ruling has significant implications for the religious site access rights claimed by the plaintiffs. The case continues to unfold as the court has mandated a report on the survey by the end of November.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 19, 2025, 15:35 IST

Court Dismisses Masjid Committee's Plea

In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has rejected a petition from the Masjid committee regarding a survey mandated by a Sambhal court concerning the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple conflict.

The court affirmed that the appointment of a court commissioner and the ongoing lawsuit are valid.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal had previously reserved his decision after listening to arguments from both the Masjid committee's counsel and the plaintiff, Hari Shanker Jain, along with representatives from the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Shahi Jama Masjid management challenged the Sambhal court's directive for a survey conducted by an advocate commissioner.

Jain and seven others initiated the lawsuit in front of a senior civil judge in Sambhal, asserting that the Shahi Idgah Mosque was constructed following the demolition of a temple.

They claimed that Mughal emperor Babur ordered the mosque's construction in 1526 after destroying the Harihar Mandir in Sambhal.

Previously, the high court had put a hold on further actions in the trial court.

The original plaintiffs asserted their right to access the religious site located in Mohalla Kot Purvi, Sambhal district.

The committee contended that the lawsuit was filed on November 19, 2024, and within hours, the judge appointed an advocate commissioner to conduct an initial survey, which took place that same day and again on November 24, 2024.

The court also instructed that a survey report be submitted by November 29.