LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the cleaning of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reported that while the structure did not require whitewashing, cleaning was necessary to remove dust and vegetation.
The bench, led by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, issued the order in response to a petition filed by the mosque management committee seeking permission for whitewashing and maintenance ahead of Ramzan. The court had directed the ASI to conduct a survey and submit a report, which formed the basis of its decision.
Earlier, the ASI submitted its inspection report stating that the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal as a whole was in good condition and that there was no urgency of repainting. On February 25, the Jama Masjid Committee’s lawyer Zaheer Asghar, filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court, seeking permission for the whitewashing and maintenance of the mosque. He stated that the mosque was repainted every year before Ramzan, but this time the administration was not granting permission.
Earlier, the mosque committee had also written to the district magistrate (DM) and the ASI regarding the repainting work. However, the DM refused, citing the mosque's ASI jurisdiction, under which all decisions concerning its upkeep must be taken by the agency.
The High Court, while hearing the matter, directed the ASI to assess whether whitewashing was required. Consequently, a three-member ASI team—comprising Joint Director Madan Singh Chauhan, Director Zulfequar Ali, and Vinod Singh Rawat—visited the mosque to examine the necessity of whitewashing and other decorative works ahead of Ramzan. The team spent about 90 minutes at the site and prepared its report.
Zafar Ali, president of the Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee, was also present during the inspection.
The ASI report, submitted to the court on Friday, noted that the mosque committee had undertaken several repair and renovation works, which had altered the original historic structure.
"The floor of the mosque has been entirely replaced with tiles and stones. The interior has been covered with a thick layer of enamel paint in sharp colours such as gold, red, green, and yellow, concealing the monument’s original surface," the ASI stated in its report.
Additionally, the report highlighted that several small chambers on the western and northern sides of the mosque were being used for storage. These chambers were in a dilapidated condition, with ceilings supported by fragile wooden shingles.
The ASI further stated that modern modifications within the mosque premises needed to be thoroughly identified by the Conservation and Science Wing of the agency to restore the monument to its original form.
Regarding routine maintenance, the ASI informed the court that it would undertake cleaning, dusting, and the removal of overgrown vegetation, provided the mosque committee did not obstruct the process and cooperated fully.
Taking note of the ASI’s findings, along with the mosque committee’s claims that the report was inaccurate, the High Court granted the committee time until Tuesday to submit its objections or response.
