The Sambhal District Authorities Are Disregarding the Apex Court Orders

Elyas Muhammad Thumbe

National General Secretary

The Sambhal District Magistrate is on with provocative actions in and around the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid, the spot where six Muslim youths were shot dead by police a few weeks ago. The killings were subsequent to the protest during the second-time court-ordered survey of the Masjid. Since then, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has ordered stopping surveys of the Masjids and any follow-up actions in the pending cases ad-interim. The DM seems to be obstinate in overriding this apex court order by hooks or crooks, and his latest drive is based on alleged ‘encroachment’ in the area. Since the Supreme Court has not banned actions on encroachment, he will not be liable for defying the Hon’ble Court. The District Magistrate Pensia has announced a three-month campaign to address the illegal constructions stating that official records show significant encroachments in the area surrounding the mosque. The district authorities under his leadership don’t want peace in the area, but, apparently, with the support and connivance of the Sangh Parivar, they trying to flare up a communal issue there.

The DM or any responsible authorities have not said what was the basis for assessing the ‘encroachment’ and ‘illegal construction’ of an ancient building that was built centuries before the country gained independence. The district authorities, in a separate case, have imposed a fine of Rs. 2 lakhs on an Imam of the Anar Wali Masjid in the Kot Garvi area in Sambhal alleging noise pollution through the loudspeaker. In the meantime, the district authorities have reopened a Hanuman-Shivaling temple that has been left neglected by the community for the past 46 years, in the same area and deployed police for its protection. It is a pity that the bureaucracy is dancing to the tunes of its masters to please them even by overriding the apex court orders, ignoring the need for a peaceful and harmonious life in the country.