Tue Apr 29 16:31:31 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Intervenes in Sambhal Well Dispute
**NEW DELHI, April 29, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday directed the management of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, to respond to a government report claiming a disputed well lies outside the mosque’s boundaries. The state government argued the mosque’s claim that the well is located within its premises is inaccurate.
The mosque’s representatives countered that part of the well is indeed inside the mosque and that it has historically provided water for the mosque. A Hindu party claims historical rights to the well’s water for religious purposes.
The court suggested both parties engage in talks to resolve the issue, suggesting shared use of the well as a potential solution. Chief Justice Khanna stated, “You (the mosque management) are using the well; let others also use the well.”
This dispute follows violence in November 2024, sparked by a civil court-ordered survey investigating claims that the mosque was built on the site of a destroyed 16th-century temple. The Supreme Court previously intervened to ensure neutrality from local authorities and maintain peace, staying the civil proceedings and sealing the survey report. The court’s intervention aims to prevent further escalation and facilitate a peaceful resolution.
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