A Chandausi court in Sambhal district on Thursday set 21st July as the date to hear a plea seeking a ban on offering of namaz (Islamic prayers) at the disputed Shahi Jama Masjid, which is claimed by some to be the Harihar Temple, reported news agency PTI.
While the petition requests the ban due to the site`s “disputed status”.
Meanwhile, Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh formally accepted the plea filed by Simran Gupta.
This dispute had previously reached the Allahabad High Court, where the Muslim side challenged a subordinate court`s order for a survey of the mosque premises, reported PTI.
However, on 19th May, the High Court upheld the trial court`s decision and directed that proceedings continue at the lower court.
Moreover, the petitioner argued that since the site was deemed disputed by the court, Muslims should also be barred from offering prayers, just as Hindus were restricted from worship. Moreover, the plea requested that the mosque be sealed and placed under the custody of the Sambhal District Magistrate.
According to PTI, Gupta also sought to be made a petitioner representing the Hindu side.
Meanwhile, both matters will now be heard on 21st July.
While the original lawsuit was filed on 19th November 2023, by eight Hindu petitioners, including advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain. On that day, a court-ordered survey was conducted at the mosque.
A second round of surveying was carried out on 24th November, after which the matter was brought before the Chandausi civil court. The last hearing took place on 28th April.
According to PTI, Advocate Sri Gopal Sharma, representing the Hindu side, informed PTI that the High Court`s order rejecting the Muslim side`s plea was submitted in court as part of the record.
On the other hand, advocate Qasim Jamal, representing the Shahi Jama Masjid, acknowledged that the opposing side had submitted the High Court`s ruling and stated that the mosque`s legal team would abide by whatever order the court issues.
Furthermore, Advocate Babu Lal Saxena, who filed the petition seeking a stay on namaz, told PTI that his client, Gupta, believes religious activity by any group should be restricted at the disputed site until a final judgment is passed.
Additionally, the case saw violent clashes in Sambhal on 24th November 2024, during the second survey at the mosque site. This unrest led to the deaths of four individuals and injuries to 29 police personnel.
Following the violence, police named Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and Shahi Jama Masjid president Zafar Ali in First Information Reports (FIRs), along with 2,750 unidentified individuals.
To date, 96 people, including Zafar Ali and several advocates, have been imprisoned in connection with the incident.
(With inputs from PTI)