Allahabad HC allows whitewashing, lighting of Sambhal Jama Masjid exterior

NEW DELHI: The Allahabad high court on Wednesday permitted whitewashing and decorative lighting of the Sambhal Jama Masjid’s exterior, provided no structural modifications are made. The court scheduled next hearing in the case for April 8.
The court on Monday had directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to submit a detailed reply on whether whitewashing, additional lighting, and decorative lights were necessary for the disputed mosque. The ASI was asked to file its response within 24 hours, with March 12 set as the hearing date.
The mosque, a Mughal-era structure, gained national attention following unrest on November 24, 2024, which left four people dead after a local court ordered a survey of the site.
During the hearing, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal stated that if further examination of the structure was required for whitewashing and related work, the ASI could send a team to inspect it. The court also directed Uttar Pradesh Advocate-General Ajay Kumar Misra to obtain a copy of an alleged agreement dated January 19, 1927, between the mosque’s mutawallis (custodians) and the state, which reportedly outlines the responsibilities of different agencies regarding the mosque’s upkeep.
Senior advocate SFA Naqvi, representing the mosque management committee, argued that the ASI had not explicitly opposed whitewashing and additional lighting. He clarified that no painting was required inside the mosque.
Meanwhile, ASI’s counsel Manoj Kumar Singh noted that while there was some flaking on the outer portion of the structure, a final decision could only be made after a thorough survey by archaeologists and experts. However, he maintained that whitewashing was unnecessary. The court observed that ASI’s stance on the matter was not clearly stated in its affidavits.