A local court in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district has refused to grant permission for an Amin survey of the 14th-century Atala Mosque, citing an interim order from the Supreme Court of India.
Civil Judge (JD) City Jaunpur, Sudha Sharma refused to pass any orders on the plea filed by a right-wing organisation, Swaraj Vahini Association, that claimed that the Atala mosque was originally a temple of Goddess ‘Atala’. The plea said this temple was demolished during the later half of the 13th century, after Feroz Tughlaq invaded India.
The plea said followers of the Sanatan religion had the right to worship therein. It sought an Amin survey of the disputed property so that its real character could be found.
In light of these developments, Civil Judge Sudha Sharma has posted the next hearing on the Atala Mosque case for March 2, 2025, allowing time for the Supreme Court’s decision on the broader constitutional issues at play.
The dispute over the Atala Mosque stems from a suit filed by the Swaraj Vahini Association (SVA) and an individual, Santosh Kumar Mishra.
The suit seeks a declaration that the site is ‘Atala Devi Mandir’ and claims that followers of the Hindu religion have the right to worship there.
The Supreme Court’s directive stated, “As the matter is sub-judice before this Court, we deem it appropriate to direct that while suits may be filed, no suits would be registered and proceedings undertaken till further orders of this Court.
We also direct that in the pending suits, the Courts would not pass any effective interim orders or final orders, including orders of survey till the next date of hearing.” (With Agencies Inputs)
