SC rejects plea against Allahabad HC order asking ASI to whitewash wall of Jama Masjid in UP's Sambhal

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea challenging the

Allahabad high court

's order that allowed whitewashing of the outer parts of the Shahi

Jama Masjid

in

Sambhal

in UP.
The SC bench comprised of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and justice Sanjay Kumar. The petition also challenged the high court order allowing the

Archaeological Survey of India

(ASI) to recover expenses from the mosque committee. The plea argued that the HC had erred in law by granting this permission.
In its March ruling, the high court directed ASI to complete whitewashing work within a week on the outer part of Sambhal Jama Masjid, where flaking was observed and restoration was deemed necessary.
"It will prejudice the right of the petitioner being devotee to claim disputed structure as Hari Har Temple of Bhagwan Kalki. Therefore, petitioner has preferred the instant petition before this Court which raises question of law of public importance," the plea said.

It further asked, "whether ASI is not provided funds for maintaining monuments like Hari Har Temple, Sambhal, or the dispute structure which is illegally occupied by the Committee of Management of Jami Masjid, Sambhal."
HC had allowed the whitewashing saying, "The ASI shall undertake the whitewashing work and complete the same within a period of one week from today. Further, no extra lighting shall be put on the walls, as it may cause damage to the monuments, but exterior lights in the shape of focus lights/LED lights may be used by the ASI for lighting of the outer area of the alleged Masjid."
This directive came in the wake of a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque, which had triggered violence in Sambhal last year.