Allahabad High Court Labels Sambhal Mosque ‘Disputed Structure’: Echoes of Babri Masjid Resurface
Lucknow, March 04, 2025 – The Allahabad High Court dropped a major ruling today, allowing the Sambhal Jama Masjid to be labeled a “disputed structure” on its wall. The decision, prompted by the Hindu side’s demand, follows a tense legal battle over claims that the Mughal-era mosque was built atop a demolished Harihar Temple. The court’s move has reignited comparisons to the decades-long Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute.
The ruling came after the mosque’s Muslim committee objected to whitewashing its walls, a process overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ASI, during the hearing, submitted a cleanliness report as ordered earlier but complained of pressure from the Muslim side over painting decisions. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal permitted the “disputed structure” tag, setting the next hearing for March 10.
Advocate Hari Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu petitioners, welcomed the order. “This is a legal step. Until the court decides, it’s not a mosque or anything else—it’s a disputed structure,” he told reporters in Ghaziabad. Drawing parallels, he added, “Even the Babri Masjid was called that for 70 years until the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict gave the land to Hindus for Ram Mandir.”
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The Sambhal dispute traces back to claims that the Shahi Jama Masjid, built in 1526 under Mughal emperor Babur, replaced a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s Kalki avatar. Tensions flared last November when a court-ordered survey triggered violence, killing five and injuring dozens. The survey report, filed in a sealed cover, remains under wraps as the case unfolds.
This isn’t the first such row in Uttar Pradesh. Similar temple-mosque disputes in Varanasi (Gyanvapi) and Mathura (Shahi Idgah) have fueled debates over the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which aims to freeze religious sites’ status as of 1947. Critics argue recent court actions challenge this law, echoing the Babri Masjid saga that ended with its 1992 demolition.
For now, Sambhal remains a flashpoint. With the ASI granted until March 10 to respond to objections, all eyes are on the High Court’s next move in this contentious case.
