SC halts Sambhal trial, directs UP govt to keep up peace and concord

“We really feel that the petitioner, Committee of Administration, Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal, should problem the order dated 19 November 2024 earlier than an acceptable courtroom/discussion board as per legislation, together with the provisions of the Code of Civil Process, 1908, and the Structure of India,” the Supreme Court docket order mentioned.

The bench additional noticed that in case any revision petition or an attraction or a miscellaneous petition was filed earlier than the suitable courtroom or discussion board, it could be listed inside three working days from the submitting date.

The order famous the plea of the Hindu aspect was mounted for listening to earlier than the civil decide on 8 January 2025.

The bench made clear that it wasn’t expressing any opinion on the deserves of the matter and ordered the itemizing of the case of the mosque committee within the week commencing 6 January.

It granted liberty to the events to maneuver acceptable purposes if vital.

Earlier within the day, Sambhal courtroom civil decide Aditya Singh directed the court-appointed commissioner, Rakesh Singh Raghav, to submit inside 10 days the survey report on the mosque.

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi represented the mosque committee within the high courtroom. On the outset, the CJI requested Ahmadi how a plea was moved straightaway within the Supreme Court docket in opposition to the impugned order of a district civil courtroom and suggested him to take authorized recourse within the excessive courtroom.

Ahmadi submitted that the trial courtroom’s order had the potential to trigger “nice mischief” whereas urging the highest courtroom to intervene.

The bench, nonetheless, suggested the committee to method the excessive courtroom beneath Article 227 of the Structure, which gives supervisory powers over decrease courts.

“We could have some reservations on the order, however is it not amenable to Article 227? You need to method the suitable discussion board,” the CJI noticed.

Expressing concern over communal concord, the CJI added, “Peace and concord need to be maintained. We don’t need something to occur… we’ve got to be completely, completely impartial and guarantee nothing flawed is completed.”

The bench then requested the state administration to arrange a peace committee having members from each the communities.