ASI Ordered to Complete Whitewashing Within a Week
In a significant judicial decision, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court's directive to whitewash the Mughal-era Jama Masjid located in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, expressed no interest in entertaining the petition and promptly dismissed it.Petitioner's Argument Rejected by the Apex Court
Advocate Barun Sinha, representing petitioner Satish Kumar Aggarwal, had strongly opposed the high court's previous ruling, claiming the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was incorrectly directed to whitewash the historical structure. Despite these arguments, the Supreme Court remained firm and upheld the high court’s earlier decision.High Court's Order on Mosque Whitewashing
Previously, on March 12, the Allahabad High Court, led by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, had explicitly ordered the ASI to whitewash the exterior walls of the mosque within a seven-day period. The order also contained specific instructions regarding lighting arrangements. It prohibited additional lights directly on the mosque walls to avoid potential damage, although external lighting such as focus lights or LEDs for illuminating the surrounding area was permitted.The high court clearly stated:
Additionally, the court mandated that the Masjid Committee initially bear the cost of whitewashing, which would subsequently be reimbursed within one week following the completion of the task."The ASI shall undertake the whitewashing work and complete the same within a period of one week from today. Further, no extra lighting shall be put on the walls, as it may cause damage to the monuments, but exterior lights in the shape of focus lights/LED lights may be used by the ASI for lighting of the outer area of the alleged Masjid."
Historical Context and Past Incidents
The controversy over maintenance and whitewashing activities at the Jama Masjid had previously triggered tensions in Sambhal. A court-mandated survey of the mosque last year escalated into violence within the district, highlighting the sensitive nature of alterations to historic structures.The current decision by the Supreme Court marks another crucial chapter in the ongoing discussion regarding preservation and restoration of heritage monuments in India.
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