The Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal has become the centre of a legal dispute, with the Uttar Pradesh government accusing the mosque authorities of attempting to encroach upon public land.
In a report submitted to the Supreme Court, the state has claimed that misleading photographs were presented in court by the mosque committee regarding a well, which is central to the controversy.
The dispute arose after Hindu petitioners alleged that the 16th-century mosque was built over a Hindu temple. The mosque authorities had submitted Google Maps images to argue that the well was located within the mosque complex.
However, the government contends that the well is a public resource, historically accessible to all communities, and is not situated inside the mosque premises.
According to the government, the well is one of 19 ancient wells in Sambhal being revived for rainwater harvesting and water conservation. The administration believes that restoring these wells has cultural significance and could also boost tourism in the region.
It further asserted that the mosque committee's legal challenge is not only obstructing the revival process but is also detrimental to the development and environmental conservation of the area.
The Supreme Court had earlier issued a stay on a local administration notice that had permitted religious activities at the well. While the court upheld the right of people to access the well for general use, it prohibited religious rituals from taking place there.
The mosque committee has also requested permission to decorate the mosque for Ramzan. However, District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya clarified that any such work requires prior approval from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Tensions surrounding the mosque escalated last year when a local court ordered a survey of the site, following petitions that claimed a temple had once stood there. The situation led to violent clashes between protestors and police, resulting in multiple casualties.
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