Supreme Court Halts Mosque Survey in Sambhal After Deadly Clashes

The Supreme Court has paused further actions on the Shahi Jama Masjid survey until January 8, following violence that left four dead and raised concerns over communal tensions.

The Supreme Court directed a stay on the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, until January 8, urging the mosque committee to approach the high court for redress.
Violence erupted on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the mosque, resulting in four deaths, injuries, and property damage.
The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a three-member judicial inquiry commission, led by retired Justice Devendra Kumar Arora, to investigate whether the violence was premeditated and assess law enforcement's role.
The mosque management committee has argued that the survey violated the Places of Worship Act, 1991, and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, which protect historical religious sites.
The petitioners claim the mosque was built on a former Hindu temple site, a claim that mirrors other disputes involving historic places of worship across India, raising broader concerns about communal harmony and legal processes.