Top Court Sends Sambhal Case To HC, Pauses Trial Court Proceedings

The Supreme Court on Friday paused trial court proceedings in connection with the survey of Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid until January 8 and directed the management committee of the Shahi Idgah Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal to approach the Allahabad High Court to challenge the trial court's order. The Supreme Court hoped that the trial court will not proceed with the survey until appropriate orders are passed by the High Court.

The top court's order comes days after violence broke out in Sambhal, killing five people, following a court-mandated survey of the mosque.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar also directed that the report of the commissioner, who conducted the survey of the mosque, should be kept in a sealed cover and should not be opened in the meantime. The court said, "Peace and harmony have to be maintained. We don't want anything to happen... we have to be absolutely, totally neutral and ensure nothing wrong is done,"

The Supreme Court's order came on a plea filed by the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee challenging the order passed by the trial court commissioning the survey of the mosque. The trial court order came following claims that the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babar in 1526 after demolishing a temple that stood there.