New Delhi, April 1 (H.S.): A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna of the Supreme Court has declined to intervene in the Allahabad High Court's order to whitewash the royal Jama Masjid in Sambhal.

The mosque committee had filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking permission to whitewash the outer walls of the mosque.

In response, the High Court had granted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) permission to whitewash the outer walls in March.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the trial court in Sambhal on November 29, 2024, not to take any action in the Jama Masjid dispute case until the Allahabad High Court issued any directives. The Supreme Court had stated that the Muslim side could approach the High Court against the order for a survey.The court had mentioned that the trial court would comply with the orders of the Allahabad High Court.

Satish Kumar Agarwal had filed a petition stating that the Sambhal Jama Masjid case is still pending in the court, and therefore, the rights of the petitioners claiming ownership over the Bhagwan Kalki's Harihar Temple would be violated.

The Supreme Court had ordered that the Advocate Commissioner's report be kept in a sealed cover and stated that this report should not be made public for the time being. The Supreme Court had mentioned that a separate hearing on the Places of Worship Act is ongoing, and this matter would be kept there.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar