Sambhal, February 24 A court in Chandausi fixed March 24 as the next date of hearing in the ongoing dispute between the Shahi Jama Masjid and the Harihar Temple.
The matter came up before Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh. However, the hearing was postponed due to an order issued by the Supreme Court.
Speaking to reporters, Shahi Jama Masjid counsel Shakeel Ahmed Warsi said that the case was listed for hearing on Tuesday, but was postponed due to the apex court's order.
"The hearing will now be held on March 24," he said.
The Muslim side has challenged the maintainability of the case in the Allahabad High Court. On May 19, the high court upheld the trial court's order permitting a court-monitored survey of the site and directed that proceedings continue.
Hindu side counsel Shri Gopal Sharma told reporters that since there is a stay order from the Supreme Court in this matter, the trial court cannot issue any orders, hence the next date was given.
The dispute dates back to November 19 last year, when Hindu petitioners, including lawyers Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, filed a suit in the Sambhal district court, claiming that the mosque was built over an existing temple.
A court-ordered survey was conducted on the same day – November 19 – followed by another on November 24.
The second survey led to significant unrest in Sambhal, resulting in the death of four people and the injury of 29 police personnel.
Police booked SP MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and mosque committee head Zafar Ali in connection with the violence, besides registering an FIR against 2,750 unidentified individuals.