HC rejects plea seeking to halt trial court proceedings

THE Allahabad High Court on Monday rejected the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee's civil revision petition against the trial court's order directing an Advocate Commissioner to survey the mosque in connection with a suit that claimed the mosque was built after destroying the Harihar temple, which existed there.

- NAMITA BAJPAI @ Lucknow

However, with Monday's order, the High Court bench, comprising Justice Rohit Ranjan Roy, upheld the trial court's survey order and added that the Hindu plaintiffs are prima facie not barred. Sambhal Civil Judge Senior Division Aditya Singh passed the order for surveying the mosque on November 19, 2024, appointing Ramesh Singh Raghav as Advocate Commissioner.

After completing arguments on May 13, the High Court had reserved its decision. On January 8, 2025, the High Court issued an interim order staying the survey and seeking responses from all opposing parties.