On Thursday, a Civil Court in Chandausi, adjourned proceedings in the contentious Shahi Jama Masjid–Harihar temple matter, setting August 28 as the next date of hearing. The case was listed before Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh.
During the hearing, counsel for the Muslim side submitted an application contending that the trial court lacked jurisdiction, as the matter is presently under consideration before the Supreme Court. The application relied upon orders passed in connection with the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, and asserted that parallel proceedings in subordinate courts would contravene the apex court’s directions. Advocate Qasim Jamal, representing the mosque, maintained that any continuation of trial proceedings during the pendency of the Supreme Court matter would amount to a violation of judicial discipline.
On the other hand, the Hindu side, represented by advocate Gopal Sharma, opposed the application, asserting that the Allahabad High Court had already upheld the trial court’s order dated May 19, which permitted a court-monitored survey and directed continuation of the proceedings. The trial court, after hearing preliminary submissions, adjourned the matter to August 28, directing that all objections be placed on record before the next date.
The dispute traces back to November 19, 2023, when Hindu petitioners, including advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, filed a suit before the Sambhal district court alleging that the Shahi Jama Masjid had been constructed over a pre-existing Harihar temple. On the same day, the court ordered a survey of the site, followed by a second survey on November 24. The latter exercise sparked violent unrest in Sambhal, leaving four persons dead and 29 police personnel injured. In the aftermath, police registered an FIR against Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, mosque committee head Zafar Ali, and approximately 2,750 unidentified individuals in connection with the violence.
The matter will now be taken up on August 28 for consideration of the jurisdictional objections raised by the mosque’s representatives.
Source PTI
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