# SC reserves verdict on Sambhal mosque survey plea

2026-09-25T22:51:48+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a plea by the Shahi Jama Masjid Committee at Sambhal challenging a trial court order that directed a survey of the mosque premises. The Allahabad High Court had upheld the survey in May 2025. A bench of justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe heard arguments from both sides and the Uttar Pradesh government, which took a neutral stand. The mosque committee, represented by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, argued the suit is not maintainable under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which preserves the religious character of a place as it stood on August 15, 1947. The Hindu side, represented by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, countered that the structure is a protected monument since 1920 and thus excluded from the Act. The court will now decide the validity of the survey.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The coverage across both outlets is uniform straight reporting with no discernible slant. Barandbench.com and Hindustan Times both lead with the court's reserved verdict and present the core legal arguments from both sides and the UP government's neutral stance. Neither source omits the violence from November 2024 or the specific provisions of the 1991 Act cited by the mosque committee. The balanced reading is that the case hinges on whether the Places of Worship Act bars the suit or whether the protected monument exception applies. The court's next step is the reserved judgment.

## Coverage

- barandbench.com (neutral report) <https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/supreme-court-reserves-verdict-on-plea-challenging-survey-of-sambhal-mosque>
  Straight litigation report, no editorial framing or emphasis on either side
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-reserves-order-on-sambhal-jama-masjid-survey-1991-act-cited-in-plea-101790357062962.html>
  Identical neutral report as source 2, no additional framing
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-reserves-order-on-challenge-to-survey-at-sambhal-mosque-101790364348520.html>
  Identical neutral report as source 2, no additional framing

Tags: Allahabad High Court, Places of Worship Act 1991, Shahi Jama Masjid Sambhal, Supreme Court of India, Uttar Pradesh government
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/supreme-court-reserves-verdict-on-sambhal-mosque-survey-plea/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/supreme-court-reserves-verdict-on-sambhal-mosque-survey-plea/#story-in-brief