- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted two-week time to the Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal, to file its response on a status report of Uttar Pradesh authorities which said the disputed well is located outside mosque.
A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar asked the committee to file affidavit while hearing an application filed by it to ensure that status quo is maintained with respect to the private well situated near the stairs/entrance of the mosque.
Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government and authorities, told the bench that the well was situated after a police post (chowki), totally outside the mosque.
Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque committee, said the president of the mosque committee Zafar Ali was in jail.
The bench said, “Take a ‘mulaqat’ (meeting with an inmate in jail) and do it. Somebody else can also file the response. Please do it in two weeks only.”
On January 10, the apex court directed the Sambhal district magistrate to maintain status quo on reviving or allowing prayers at the well.
During the hearing, the bench asked Huzefa, “Tell us, wells are used by everybody. Wells are something which are normally never closed.”
Huzefa said well is closed by cement, it was never opened from the top, and water was only drawn from inside the well by the mosque.
Advocate added it’s not only about opening the well but also about performing religious ceremonies by the other side.
Mosque committee had filed an application seeking direction to the District Magistrate to ensure that status quo is maintained with respect to the private well situated near the stairs/entrance of the mosque.
