The court is expected to deliberate further on the matter in the coming days, while the judicial commission continues its investigation into the violence and the broader issues surrounding the mosque and its historical significance.
A three-member judicial commission visited the Shahi Jama Masjid and other violence-affected areas in Sambhal on Sunday. The visit is part of its ongoing investigation into the deadly clashes that broke out on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque. The violence, which left four people dead and several others injured, has sparked intense controversy and concerns over communal tensions in the region.
The commission, led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora, and comprising retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain, conducted the visit under tight security measures. The third member of the panel, ex-IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad, was absent from the visit, though he is expected to join the commission in the coming days.
The team was accompanied by senior local officials, including Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, DIG Muniraj G, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya, and Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar. Despite their presence in the area, the commission members refrained from responding to any media queries during the morning visit.
The commission was formed following the violence on November 24, which occurred during a survey linked to a petition alleging that a Hindu temple, known as Harihar Temple, once stood at the site of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The judicial commission has been tasked with investigating the circumstances leading to the clashes, including whether the violence was a spontaneous outburst or part of a planned conspiracy. It will also examine the preparedness of the police and local administration in handling the situation and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The panel has been given two months to complete its probe, with any extension requiring government approval. The commission’s findings will be closely watched, as they could have significant implications for both local governance and religious tensions in the area.
ASI files response in court seeking control of mosque’s management
Meanwhile, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has also submitted a counterargument in a court case concerning the control and management of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The mosque is a protected heritage structure under ASI jurisdiction. The ASI's submission, made in response to the court’s order permitting the survey, states that it faced resistance from the mosque's management and locals in conducting the survey.
In its court filing, the ASI highlighted a previous incident of 19 January 2018, when an FIR was filed against the mosque’s management committee for unauthorized modifications to the mosque, including the installation of steel railings. The ASI has stated that as the entity responsible for the mosque's preservation, it should retain control over the management and any structural changes to the site.