A local court on Wednesday set March 5 as the next hearing date for the case concerning the Shahi Jama Masjid in Chandausi and its ongoing survey.
Shakil Ahmad Wari, the attorney representing the Muslim side, informed the media that the Supreme Court had issued a directive halting all lower courts from entertaining new petitions related to the survey of places of worship until further instructions. “We have filed a copy of the Supreme Court’s order, and the court has now scheduled the next hearing for March 5,” Wari confirmed.
The dispute stems from claims by the Hindu side that the Shahi Jama Masjid was built on the site of an ancient Harihar temple. In response, Wari emphasized that the matter must be resolved in court. “We will present our evidence to prove that this site was never a Harihar temple, but instead, it is the Jama Masjid,” he stated.
Tensions in Sambhal have been escalating since November 19, when the court-mandated survey of the mosque began due to these claims. On November 24, the second phase of the survey saw violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
The resulting chaos, which included stone-throwing and acts of arson, led to four deaths and multiple injuries.
