Mon Mar 10 07:37:09 UTC 2025: **Allahabad High Court Seeks ASI Clarification on Sambhal Jama Masjid Whitewashing**
**Prayagraj, March 10, 2025** – The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to explain what harm whitewashing the exterior walls of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, would cause. The court’s order follows an objection from the mosque committee, which stated that its request was solely for the exterior whitewashing and lighting, and that the ASI had not responded adequately.
The mosque committee’s lawyer, S.F.A. Naqvi, argued that the ASI’s focus on the mosque’s interior was misplaced, as their request pertained only to the outer walls. The ASI had previously reported that the interior had been painted with ceramic color and did not require whitewashing.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal adjourned the hearing until March 12, instructing the Sambhal District Magistrate to present the original 1927 agreement between the administration and the mosque committee regarding the handover of the mosque to the ASI. The court also ordered the ASI to remove dust and overgrown vegetation from the mosque grounds. This legal action comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding the preservation of the historical site.
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