ASI seeks management, administration of Mughal-era Sambhal mosque
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has submitted its written assertion in a civil courtroom in Sambhal, in search of management and administration of the Mughal-era Shahi mosque as it’s a protected heritage construction.
The assertion was submitted within the courtroom on November 29 throughout a listening to of the Shahi Mosque vs Harihar Mandir case. The identical courtroom had appointed a courtroom commissioner to hold out a survey of the mosque.
The Hindu facet had filed a civil go well with within the courtroom on November 19 claiming that the mosque was constructed over a Harihar temple in 1529.
Representing the ASI, Vishnu Sharma, standing counsel of the federal government of India, mentioned the company submitted its counterargument within the courtroom on Friday, stating that it confronted resistance from the mosque’s administration committee and locals in conducting surveys of the location.
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He mentioned the ASI additionally highlighted an incident from January 19, 2018, when an FIR was filed towards the mosque’s administration committee for putting in metal railings on the mosque’s steps with out correct authorisation.
The mosque, notified as an ASI-protected monument in 1920, is underneath the purview of the company and as such, public entry to the construction needs to be permitted, offered it adheres to ASI rules, Sharma mentioned.
The ASI argued that management and administration of the monument, together with any structural modifications, should stay with it.
It additionally raised considerations that unauthorised modifications to the mosque’s construction by the administration committee are illegal and needs to be restricted.
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Shahi Mosque committee chief Zafar Ali admitted that the mosque is an ASI protected monument since 1920. Relating to the ASI assertion filed in courtroom, Ali mentioned that the railing was put in within the mosque years in the past.
“The current committee exists for six years and don’t know when and who put in the railings,” he mentioned. He clarified {that a} room and a nicely constructed contained in the premises are additionally greater than 100 years outdated.
The ASI filed a case towards the committee in 2018, which is underneath trial and the committee will submit its counter reply as soon as it’s listed for listening to, he mentioned.
Ali admitted that the mosque being a protected monument, the committee requires prior approval from ASI to do any alteration or development work.
