The Hindu side opposed the whitewashing of the mosque out of the apprehension that it was an attempt to destroy evidence of the existence of a Hindu temple.
The Allahabad High Court has ordered cleaning of Sambhal Mosque premises ahead of Ramzan as Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said whitewashing is not needed
Aligarh civil judge’s court is set to hear a petition filed on Monday claiming the presence of archaeological evidence relating to a Buddhist Stupa, a Jain temple and a Shiv temple inside Uparkot Jama Masjid in Aligarh.
Furthermore, the ASI is likely to inform the JPC about the difficulties this causes in the maintenance and conservation measures of the ASI-protected but Waqf-controlled sites.
The Superintending Archaeologist of ASI’s Meerut circle submitted that the Sambhal Jama Masjid management committee has carried out various interventions and modifications in the disputed mosque.
A court survey at Jama Masjid, Sambhal, investigates claims it occupies the Shri Hari Har Temple site, protected under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act.
Reports suggest that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bidar fort's custodian, is ignorant of the development. The Waqf Board declared that 17 of the 60 properties on the Bidar Fort premises belong to it.