Sambhal Row | Mosque Committee Challenges Trial Court's Survey Order In Allahabad HC; Advocate Commissioner Files Sealed Report

This development comes as the Advocate Commissioner submitted the survey report to the trial court in a sealed cover last week. However, as per the Supreme Court's directive, no effective orders, interim or final, could be passed based on the said report.

The High Court is expected to hear the Masjid Committee's plea later this week.

It may be noted that the Masjid Committee has moved the HC over a month after the Supreme Court directed the Sambhal Trial Court not to proceed with the suit against the Masjid until the Masjid Committee's petition against the survey order is listed in the High Court.

The impugned order was passed by Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh on a suit filed by eight plaintiffs, including Mahant Rishiraj Giri, who claimed that the mosque in question was built in 1526 after demolishing a temple that stood there. The survey triggered violence on November 24, which left four persons killed.

According to the Hindu Plaintiffs, the Mosque in question was originally the site of an ancient temple (Hari Har Temple) dedicated to Kalki, the last avatar of Lord Vishnu. In 1526, on the orders of Mughal Ruler Babar, the temple was partly demolished and converted into a mosque.

In their suit, the plaintiffs, represented by Advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, the right to access the mosque is being claimed.

Speaking to Live Law, court-appointed Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Raghav claimed that he has filed the survey report in a sealed cover as per the Court's November 19 direction.