The Allahabad High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to whitewash the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal for Ramzan, overturning the agency’s reluctance to allow the long-standing tradition.

The court’s decision, delivered on Wednesday, March 12, came after the ASI failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for its refusal to permit the whitewashing, despite clear signs of flaking on the mosque’s exterior.

The directive brings relief to the mosque’s management committee, which had been struggling to obtain approval for the maintenance and decorative lighting of the structure ahead of Ramzan, which began on March 2.

The court stated that the whitewashing should be carried out in all areas where deterioration is evident, with costs to be borne by the mosque committee.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, while passing the order, criticized the ASI for failing to provide a suitable justification for denying the request. He noted that the agency had submitted an affidavit and inspection report arguing that previous layers of whitewash had accumulated over the years and that heavy nails used for hanging decorative lights had caused damage to the structure.

However, the court found that the ASI had sidestepped addressing why it was refusing fresh whitewashing despite photographic evidence showing the need for it.

The ASI had earlier informed the court that an inspection on February 27 concluded the mosque was in “good condition” and did not require a fresh coat of paint, even as the report acknowledged signs of flaking and some deterioration. However, the mosque’s management committee, strongly contested the ASI’s claim that the structure did not require whitewashing, asserting that their request was solely for routine cleaning, whitewashing, and lighting, a tradition upheld annually before Ramzan.

“It is a long-standing tradition that has been followed for years,” said Zafar Ali, chairperson of the Shahi Jama Masjid, questioning the ASI’s stance.

“How did the ASI overlook the poor condition of the mosque, especially the exterior?" he added.

Senior advocate S.F.A. Naqvi, representing the mosque committee, during the previous hearing emphasized that caretakers had been conducting maintenance work, including whitewashing, for decades without any objection from the ASI. He further pointed out that last year alone, the committee spent approximately Rs 4 lakh on upkeep, reinforcing their argument that the practice was an essential part of preserving the mosque’s condition.

On Wednesday, the committee accused the ASI of attempting to complicate the issue by falsely portraying it as a request for structural repairs. It also alleged that the agency’s reluctance appeared to be influenced by external pressure, citing the unauthorized presence of district administration officials during the ASI’s inspection.

The high court directed the ASI to complete the whitewashing within a week but ruled out allowing additional decorative lighting on the mosque’s walls to prevent potential damage. However, it permitted the installation of focus and LED lights to illuminate the exterior.

The dispute escalated after the ASI, in a March 10 affidavit, stated that while flaking was visible on parts of the mosque, a final decision could only be taken after a detailed survey by its conservation and science wing.

The agency maintained that whitewashing was unnecessary, a stance the court ultimately rejected.

With nearly a third of Ramzan already over, the mosque committee had pressed for urgent intervention, accusing the ASI of deliberately delaying the issue.

It argued that the agency, which is responsible for preserving the monument, had failed in its duty for over a century and was now deliberately obstructing an essential religious tradition.

For the time being, the high court’s ruling ensures that the mosque’s longstanding practice of being whitewashed for Ramzan will continue.