Allahabad High Court to hear Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid case today
New Delhi: The Allahabad High Court will hear a petition concerning the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal on Tuesday. A bench led by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal will take up the case at 10 a.m.
The mosque management committee has sought permission to whitewash the mosque premises ahead of Ramzan, a request that has sparked discussions in recent months.
During the hearing, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is expected to submit its report on the cleanliness of the mosque. The court had earlier directed the ASI to inspect the premises and ensure its maintenance. Meanwhile, the mosque committee’s legal representatives will file their response to the ASI’s findings.
In a previous hearing on Friday, the court had instructed the ASI to clean the mosque premises but refrained from allowing whitewashing before Ramzan. It also ordered the ASI to form a three-member team to inspect the site and present their report.
The case has drawn attention due to claims that the Shahi Jama Masjid was built after demolishing the historic Harihar Temple. The controversy escalated following a court-ordered survey of the mosque on 24 November 2024, which triggered violent clashes, resulting in four deaths.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
