'Sambhal mosque to be whitewashed in a week'

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Archaeological Survey of India to undertake and complete white-washing of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district within one week.

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The court directed ASI to carry out whitewashing only on those parts where it is required and asked the mosque committee to reimburse ASI for costs incurred in the process within one week of work being completed. "No extra lighting shall be put on the walls, as it may cause damage to the monument, but exterior lights in shape of focus lights/LED lights may be used by the ASI for lighting the outer area of the Masjid. The expenditure incurred in the whitewashing shall be borne by the Masjid Committee, and the same shall be reimbursed within one week after the completion of whitewashing work," Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal said in his order.