Halt Sambhal mosque survey for now: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday directed a Sambhal trial court to temporarily halt proceedings in the case over the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid and its survey at Chandausi while directing the UP government to maintain peace and harmony in the violence-hit town.

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On November 19, a court of civil judge (senior division) of Sambhal passed an ex-parte order for a survey of the mosque by an advocate commissioner after taking note of a plea of the Hindu side that claimed the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple.

On November 24, violence gripped the area, post the order, snuffing out four lives.

On Friday, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar emphasised the importance of maintaining peace in the Sambhal district and instructed that the report prepared by the court commissioner following the mosque survey be sealed and not opened until further orders.