The Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to sweep the complex of Jama Masjid in Sambhal but refused permission for whitewashing the mosque.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal made the order during the hearing of a petition filed by the Committee of Management, Jama Masjid, seeking permission for whitewashing and cleaning of the mosque ahead of Ramzan.
A day before, on Thursday, the court had directed the ASI to carry out a immediate inspection of the mosque and constitute a three-member panel to file a report by 10 am on Friday.
The ASI, in its report, said that the interior of the mosque is covered with ceramic paint and opined that whitewashing is not necessary at this point.
In Friday's hearing, senior advocate S F A Naqvi, who appeared on behalf of the mosque committee, made it clear that they were asking for permission only for whitewashing and lighting. The court, in response, asked the ASI to go ahead with dust clearance and grass cutting within the compound.
Naqvi promised the court that the cleaning operation would not create any disturbance, while the state's advocate general assured that law and order would be ensured during the operation.
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