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The ASI has told the court that the provisions of the Ancient Buildings and Archaeological Remains Protection Act, 1958 are being violated in the mosque premises. But whenever the ASI team visited, local people used to stop them and lodge complaints with the police.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has said in the affidavit filed in the court that its team was also not allowed to enter Sambhal Jama Masjid. ASI told the court that it is our responsibility to maintain and protect this mosque since 1920. But for a long time our team is being stopped from going to the mosque. Therefore we do not have information about its current form.
According to the ASI, whenever the team went to inspect this heritage mosque, people raised objections and stopped it from going further. Therefore, the ASI has no knowledge of any arbitrary construction carried out internally in the mosque premises. ASI had visited this mosque in 1998. The last time a team of ASI officials managed to enter the mosque with the help of the local administration and police was in June this year.
Rules are being violated in Sambhal Masjid: ASI
At that time the ASI had noticed some additional construction work in the mosque building. It has told the court that the provisions of the Ancient Buildings and Archaeological Remains Protection Act, 1958 are being grossly violated in the mosque complex. But whenever the ASI team visited, local people used to stop them and lodge complaints with the police. ASI has also issued a show cause notice to those responsible for illegal construction in this heritage mosque.
ASI said in its report that steel railings have been installed on both sides of the stairs of the main mosque building. The Commissioner of Agra had lodged an FIR in Sambhal Kotwali on 19 January 2018 regarding the construction of this illegal steel railing. After this, on January 23, 2018, the Superintending Archaeologist of ASI issued a show cause notice to the Chairman of Sambhal Jama Masjid Committee. On 16 February 2018, the Additional Commissioner Administration of Agra Division had issued an order to the District Magistrate of Sambhal to demolish the said steel railing. No action has been taken till date.
There is illegal construction in this protected mosque: ASI
There is a pond in the center of the mosque which is used by worshippers. Presently this pond has been renovated by laying stones. As you enter the mosque from the main gate, new flooring has been made on the ground using red sandstone, marble and granite stones. The old original stone structure is buried in it. Currently, the Jama Masjid has been completely painted in several thick layers of enamel paint by the Masjid Committee. Plaster of Paris has been used in the original stone construction. Due to which the original form of the mosque has been destroyed.
A glass chandelier hangs from an iron chain on the dome of the main hall of the mosque. The above iron chain has been described by Fuhrer in his book ‘The Monumental Antiquities and Inscriptions, in the North-Western Provinces and Awadh’ on page number 10. This book mentions the original construction and architecture of the Sambhal Mosque. But now the actual remains of the old roof are visible only in two small room-like structures on the west side of the mosque and a small room-like structure on the north side of the mosque. The above rooms are usually closed.
The original form of the mosque has deteriorated: ASI
In a comparison to an 1875–76 drawing of the mosque, an arched structure is visible on top of the front of its main structure. Chhajja, turrets and minarets etc. were constructed later. The stairs of the main building of the mosque are built in the south direction. There is also a fort built on top of this building built on a mound. There were old rooms on the ground floor behind the mosque. The Mosque Committee has converted that ancient building into a shop and given it on rent. ASI has written in the affidavit filed in the court that due to arbitrary construction at many places, the original structure of this protected memorial mosque has been changed. Bright colors have been used in the interior of the main part. Due to illegal construction, the original appearance of this mosque has deteriorated.
