A petition has been filed in the Aligarh civil court on Thursday, alleging that the Mughal-era Jama Masjid in the city was constructed over the remains of a Shiva temple, a Buddhist stupa, and a Jain temple, which were reportedly demolished in the 18th century.
The plea was submitted by RTI activist Pandit Keshav Dev Gautam, who based his claims on responses obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act from several government departments, including the Aligarh Municipal Corporation.
Gautam stated that Civil Judge Gajendra Singh has scheduled the hearing of the case for February 15. In an interview, he mentioned, “I have been filing queries with various government departments to learn more about the origins of Jama Masjid, which, according to historical records, was constructed in the early 18th century.”
The Jama Masjid, which is over 300 years old, was built between 1724 and 1728 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. It is located in the Upper Kot area of Aligarh, a densely populated locality with a Muslim-majority population. Gautam further claimed that one of the responses from the Aligarh Municipal Corporation indicated that the mosque was constructed on “public land without government approval.”
Citing this RTI reply, Gautam has approached the court to request that the Jama Masjid management committee be declared “illegal.” He has also sought the takeover of the mosque site by the government. A copy of the petition, which was obtained by PTI and carries the stamp of the oath commissioner, reveals the details of Gautam’s plea.
The case has drawn significant attention, as it raises historical and legal questions about the mosque’s origins and its construction over what are alleged to be ancient religious sites. The outcome of the upcoming hearing in February could have important implications for both the Jama Masjid and the historical narrative surrounding it.
