Sambhal Mosque Row | 'State On Affidavit If You Claim Protected Monuments Can't Be Allowed To Be Whitewashed': Allahabad HC To ASI

Hearing the Sambhal Jama Mosque Management Committee's plea seeking permission for the whitewashing of the Mosque, the Allahabad High Court today directed the counsel appearing for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to file an affidavit if it was claiming that whitewashing a protected monument can not be permitted.

Although Advocate Manoj Kumar Singh, representing the ASI, clarified that it was not his argument, the Court reminded him of his oral submission made during the previous hearing, where he had argued that whitewashing can not be permitted on any protected monument. 

During the hearing, the ASI also argued that the mosque committee had discolored the monument by whitewashing it. The bench then asked him to state this clearly in their affidavit.

J. Agarwal : Aapke officers ne kahan kaha h affidavit mein aisa? Specific rule kahan likha h?

ASI : There has to be a specific need for whitewash.

J. Agarwal : To wo likhiye ki nahi jarurat h. Inki simple need whitewash ki h. Aap affidavit dijiye. Aapke pass experts hain.

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) March 10, 2025

A bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal further asked the ASI's counsel to specify in the affidavit whether whitewashing the outer part of the mosque was necessary, as the single judge noted that the mosque management committee had specifically sought the whitewashing of the exterior part of the mosque.

Posting the matter for March 12 for the filing of ASI's affidavit, the bench also assured the counsel representing the mosque committee (Senior Counsel SFA Naqvi) that there was no need for concern as the matter would be decided before the "important" day. The Court has also allowed two ASI officials to visit the monument from outside .

It may be noted that earlier, on February 28, the court directed the ASI to undertake the cleaning work of the mosque premises, including the removal of dust and vegetation both inside and around the area.

The ASI has already submitted before the HC that the Shahi Jama Mosque in Sambhal as a whole is in good condition, and there is no urgency of repainting.