Supreme Court to Review Mosque Survey Order

Tensions have escalated in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, following a trial court's order to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid, a mosque claimed by some Hindu groups to have been built on the ruins of a temple. This order led to violent clashes on November 24, resulting in six deaths and numerous injuries. The Supreme Court intervened, requesting that the trial court refrain from proceeding with the survey until the Allahabad High Court addresses the mosque's impending lawsuit. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has called for the Supreme Court to bar lower courts from hearing mosque-related petitions, invoking the Places of Worship Act of 1991, which aims to preserve the status of religious sites as they were on India's independence day in 1947. Amidst the unrest, security remains heightened around the mosque while the Supreme Court is set to hear challenges against the district court's directive, emphasizing the potential threat to India's secular framework. The situation underscores the volatile mix of religious sentiments and legal battles surrounding historical claims in India.