New Delhi, 24 February (HS): The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday informed the Supreme Court in a status report that the well near the disputed mosque in Sambhal is located on public land and has no connection with the religious site.

The government had filed the report in response to a plea filed by the Shahi Jama Masjid Committee seeking maintenance of status-quo in regards to a private well, locally known as Dharani Varah Koop, near the mosque’s entrance.

UP Government said that the district administration is planning to revive wells and termed the plea by the committee an attempt to obstruct the process of revival of the well and called it illegal.

The status report states that the mosque well is part of the 19 wells that are being revived by the district administration. After their revival through rainwater harvesting, people of all communities will be able to use them. This will also attract tourism to Sambhal culturally.

On January 10, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the municipality’s notice regarding the well associated with the mosque. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna had issued a notice to the UP government on the petition of the mosque management committee.

On November 29, 2024, the Supreme Court had directed the trial court of Sambhal not to take any action on the Jama Masjid dispute case until the Allahabad High Court gives any instructions. The Supreme Court had said that the Muslim parties can go to the High Court against the survey order. The bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna had said that the trial court will follow the order of the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court had ordered to keep the Advocate Commissioner’s report sealed. The court had said that this report should not be made public at present. The Supreme Court had said that a separate hearing is going on on the Places of Worship Act, this matter will be kept there.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar