Archive · 28 Jul 2026
SC Told HC Erred in Sambhal Mosque Survey Case
There is a legal dispute about a survey ordered for the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.
The Supreme Court had ordered in December 2024 that courts should not entertain new lawsuits or pass orders in pending ones about reclaiming religious places.
The Allahabad High Court, however, proceeded with the case and upheld the survey.
The mosque committee argues that the High Court should not have proceeded with the case and that a second survey was illegal.
The Supreme Court will continue hearing the arguments on August 4, 2025.
The Supreme Court was told that the Allahabad High Court should not have proceeded with the Sambhal mosque survey case in light of the apex court’s December 2024 order.
The Allahabad High Court upheld the civil court’s direction for the survey, stating that the order to appoint a court commissioner and the suit were maintainable.
The mosque committee argues that the second survey carried out on November 24, 2024, was illegal as the civil court never ordered it.
The Supreme Court had ordered in December 2024 that courts should not entertain new lawsuits or pass orders in pending ones about reclaiming religious places.
The arguments in the matter will continue on August 4, 2025.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, Allahabad High Court, and the committee of management of Sambhal’s Jama Masjid.
- What
- A legal dispute over the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple in Sambhal.
- When
- The Supreme Court's order was passed on December 12, 2024, and the Allahabad High Court's order was passed on May 19, 2025.
- Where
- Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- The dispute involves the legality of a survey ordered by a Sambhal court in the Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Temple dispute, and whether the Allahabad High Court could proceed with the case in light of the Supreme Court's 2024 order.
Mosque Committee
Allahabad High Court
Proceedings in Light of SC Order
Mosque Committee
The Allahabad High Court should not have proceeded with the case as the Supreme Court had restrained courts from entertaining such lawsuits in December 2024.
Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court upheld the civil court's direction for the survey, stating that the order to appoint a court commissioner and the suit were maintainable.
Legality of the Survey
Mosque Committee
The second survey carried out on November 24, 2024, was illegal as the civil court never ordered it.
Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court dismissed the plea against the survey ordered by the Sambhal court.
- Date of SC Order
- December 12, 2024
- Date of High Court Order
- May 19, 2025
- Date of Civil Court Order
- November 19, 2024
- Date of Second Survey
- November 24, 2024
- Date of SC Hearing
- July 28, 2025
- Date of Next Hearing
- August 4, 2025
- Legislation
- Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991
- Dispute Location
- Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh