Sambhal mosque row: UP court orders survey team to submit report in 10 days, next hearing on Jan 8

SAMBHAL: A court here on Friday directed the court-appointed commissioner to submit within 10 days the survey report on the Jama Masjid mosque here following claims that a temple stood on the spot, and fixed January 8 as the next date of hearing. Mosque Committee's lawyer Amir Hussain said both Hindu and the Muslim sides were present in the court besides the court commissioner, who had inspected the spot. The court commissioner informed the court that he could not prepare the report following which the judge stated that he will not get another chance to visit the spot and asked him to prepare a report and submit it within 10 days, Hussain said. Tensions have been escalating in Sambhal since November 19, when a court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid began following claims that a Harihar temple had once stood on the site.