Recently, violence had broken out during the court-ordered survey at Shahi Jama Masjid on 24th November has. The mosque committee has now objected to the administration’s efforts to clean the area, investigate the property, and open the well constructed outside the structure. The Chairman of the Shahi Jama Masjid Committee has accused the Uttar Pradesh Government, District Magistrate (DM) and Municipal Council officials of trying to ‘change the character’ of the ancient well.
The Masjid chairman has issued a legal notice under Section 80 CPC (Code of Civil Procedure) and Section 326 Municipal Act 1916 regarding this on 16th December. Addressing DM Sambhal in this notice, he clearly warned that any such attempt will not only be illegal but will also hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community and create an atmosphere of tension in the society. In the notice, advocate Shakeel Ahmed Warsi, on behalf of the chairman of the mosque committee, lawyer Zafar Ali, claimed that the old well is located under the eastern wall of the mosque and is its part and property.
It further conveyed that the Muslim community has been employing it for wuzu for many years. It also has a motor and is only used by Muslims. This well was never used by the non-Muslim community for any ritual and they have never interfered either. According to the committee, the Nagar Palika Parishad Sambhal and other government representatives intended to inspect and renovate areas of the mosque’s grounds, including the platform, cemetery and the well due to which the people of the Muslim community would have to face a lot of inconvenience and cause unnecessary dissatisfaction in the society.
The act would be against Supreme Court orders and the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which forbids any renovation, repair, or alteration of places of worship, the notice read. Furthermore, the dispute regarding the mosque is still pending in the court. The letter declared that the mosque committee would file a lawsuit if the well or any area of the mosque grounds were to be tampered with. All damages and possible disruptions resulting from this will be the responsibility of DM Sambhal, the Uttar Pradesh government and Nagar Palika Parishad Sambhal.
The committee also alleged that such activities would deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. The notice also threatened that any such action could lead to social unrest and tension, which would be detrimental to the peace of the region.
“I have not received any such notice. A response will be given accordingly after receiving the notice. The court order is for inside the mosque. The well and the cemetery are outside the building. We have asked for no construction in the cemetery but for its cleaning. The well is closed to people and will be reopened for public use as it was made accessible in the past,” informed Dr. Rajendra Pensiya, District Magistrate, Sambhal.
