Uttar Pradesh

• 02 Dec 2024

ASI Response on Sambhal Mosque

Why in News?

Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has requested the civil court in Sambhal for control and management of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, citing its status as a protected heritage site. The request follows the court’s approval of a survey of the mosque.

Key Points

• Controversy Around the Sambhal Mosque:
  • On 19^th January, 2018, an First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the mosque's management committee for installing steel railings on the mosque's steps without obtaining proper authorization.
  • The ASI stated that the Shahi Jama Masjid which was notified as a protected monument in 1920, under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1904, falls under its jurisdiction.
  • The ASI argued that the mosque’s management committee made unauthorised structural modifications, which are unlawful and should be restricted.
• Access and Regulation:
  • The ASI maintained that public access to the mosque is permissible, but only if it adheres to ASI regulations.
  • The ASI has sought full control and management of the mosque, emphasizing its responsibility for maintaining the monument and regulating any changes to its structure.
• Violence During Court-Ordered Survey:
  • Violence erupted in Sambhal on 24^th November 2024, during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
  • Four people were killed, and several others sustained injuries during the clashes.
• Judicial Commission:
  • A three-member judicial commission was formed on 28th November 2024, to investigate the violence.
  • The commission will determine whether the violence was spontaneous or part of a premeditated conspiracy.
  • The inquiry will analyze the events leading to the violence and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
  • It is required to submit its findings within two months, with any extension subject to government approval.
• Survey and Temple Petition:
  • The court-ordered survey was linked to a petition claiming that the Jama Masjid in Sambhal was originally a Hari Har temple located in mohalla Kot Purvi and was converted into a mosque in 1529.
  • Historical Context:
    • The Jama Masjid in Sambhal is one of three mosques constructed during Babur’s reign (1526–1530). The others include the mosque at Panipat and the now-demolished Babri Masjid.
    • Historian Howard Crane described the mosque’s architectural features in his work, The Patronage of Babur and the Origins of Mughal Architecture.
    • Crane noted a Persian inscription stating that Babur ordered the mosque’s construction in December 1526 through his subedar, Jahangir Quli Khan.

Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904

• About:
  • The Act was passed in 1904, during the tenure of Lord Curzon in British India.
  • It aimed at preserving ancient monuments and objects of historical, archaeological, and artistic significance.
• Key Provisions:
  • It empowered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to protect and restore ancient Indian monuments.
  • Regulated the movement and trade of antiquities to prevent illegal trafficking.
  • Provided for control over archaeological excavations in specified areas.
  • Facilitated the acquisition of ancient monuments for preservation in certain cases.
• Significance:
  • Played a foundational role in protecting India’s historical and cultural heritage under a structured legal framework.
  • Enhanced the responsibilities of the ASI in monument conservation.

UP Declares Maha Kumbh Area a New District

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government has declared the Maha Kumbh area in Prayagraj as a new district.

• It was made to streamline the management and administration of the upcoming Kumbh Mela scheduled for January 2025.

Key Points

• The notification was issued under Section 2 (th) of the Uttar Pradesh Prayagraj Mela Authority, Prayagraj Act, 2017.
  • It officially declares the Mahakumbh Mela District for organizing the Mahakumbh 2025.
  • The Mela Adhikari was made the administrative authority of the new district.
• Powers and Responsibilities of Mela Adhikari:
  • The Mela Adhikari, Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj, will hold powers of the Executive Magistrate, District Magistrate, and Additional District Magistrate under Section-14 (1) and relevant sections of the Indian Civil Defense Code, 2023.
  • The Mela Adhikari will also possess all the powers of the District Magistrate and Collector under the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006 (amended in 2016), for handling all cases.
  • The Mela Adhikari has the authority to appoint an Additional Collector for the district.

Maha Kumbh

• Kumbh Mela comes under United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• It is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river.
  • It takes place on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik, the Shipra river in Ujjain, the Ganges in Haridwar, and the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati river in Prayagraj. The confluence is referred to as the ‘Sangam‘.
• As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves different social and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival.
• The over month-long fair is marked by the construction of a massive tented township, complete with cottages, huts, platforms, civic facilities, administrative and security measures.
  • It is organised immaculately by the government, the local authorities and the police.
• The mela is especially renowned for the presence of an extraordinary array of religious ascetics enticed from remote hideaways in forests, mountains and caves.