PRAYAGRAJ: Allahabad high court directed Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday to file a specific reply on whether whitewashing, extra lighting and decorative lights were required outside the disputed Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal.
It directed ASI to file its reply in an affidavit within 24 hours, fixing March 12 as the next hearing date. This followed a plea by the mosque management committee for whitewashing, cleaning and lighting. The Mughal-era structure shot into national spotlight after four deaths in unrest on Nov 24, 2024 over a survey on a local court’s orders.
On Monday, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal directed that in case there was need for further examining the structure for whitewashing and other related works, ASI was free to send its team there. The court directed UP advocate-general Ajay Kumar Misra to seek a copy of an agreement alleged to have been executed between mutawallis (keepers) of Jama Masjid and the state on Jan 19, 1927. The agreement reportedly defines the roles of various agencies in the upkeep of the structure.
Mosque committee senior advocate SFA Naqvi contended that ASI had not specified clearly that it was opposed to whitewashing along with extra lighting. No painting is required in the inner part of the site, Naqvi said.
ASI’s counsel Manoj Kumar Singh pointed out though there was some flaking on the outer portion of the monument, a final call could only be taken after a proper survey by archaeologists and experts. Even so, there is no need for whitewashing, Singh argued. The HC then pointed out that this position was not clearly spelt out in ASI’s affidavits.
