Whitewashing of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal Begins Following Allahabad High Court Order
The whitewashing of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, commenced on Sunday, following an order from the Allahabad High Court. The court directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete the whitewashing within one week and permitted decorative lighting on the mosque’s exterior, provided no structural modifications are made.
This development comes after significant unrest in November 2024, when a local court ordered a survey of the Mughal-era mosque amid claims that it was built over an ancient Hari Har Mandir. The survey led to clashes resulting in four fatalities and several injuries, including among police personnel.
The dispute has reignited debates concerning the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which maintains the religious character of places of worship as they were on August 15, 1947. The Act prohibits the conversion of any religious site from one faith to another and bars courts from entertaining related legal disputes, with the exception of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case.
Following the court’s directive, an ASI team conducted measurements and assessments on March 13 to facilitate the whitewashing process. Security has been heightened around the mosque, with a three-member committee overseeing the painting work ahead of Ramzan.
