The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday agreed to refer to the Sambhal Jama Masjid as a "disputed structure" during a hearing on a plea filed by the mosque management committee, which sought approval for whitewashing the centuries-old monument.

During the proceedings, the court accepted a request from the Hindu petitioners to officially use the term "disputed structure" while referring to the mosque. The stenographer was instructed to reflect this change in official records.

The controversy surrounding the 16th-century mosque stems from claims that it was built after demolishing an ancient Hindu temple, known as the Harihar Mandir, during the reign of Mughal emperor Babur. The matter gained further traction last November when a court-ordered survey sparked violent protests in the area.

The mosque management committee had approached the court for permission to undertake whitewashing of the structure. However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) opposed the request, stating that such maintenance was unnecessary at this stage.

Advocate Hari Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, argued against the mosque committee’s claim that it had the authority to maintain the structure under a 1927 agreement. Instead, he asserted that the ASI holds responsibility for its upkeep.

During the hearing, Jain urged the court to officially recognize the mosque as a "disputed structure," a request the bench granted. As per reports, the court then directed the stenographer to use this term in official documentation.

Previously, on February 28, the court had instructed the ASI to oversee the cleaning of the site, including the removal of dust and overgrown vegetation inside and around the structure.

Jain further alleged in an affidavit that the mosque committee had undertaken unauthorized modifications to the monument, including painting walls and pillars, with the intent to obscure Hindu symbols and carvings. He remains the lead petitioner in the broader legal dispute concerning the existence of a temple at the site.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has been actively working to restore and renovate historic Hindu sites, including temples and ancient wells across the state.

Speaking in the state assembly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed that efforts had been made in the past to erase evidence of numerous pilgrimage sites in Sambhal.

"As part of a deliberate attempt, 68 places of pilgrimage and 19 wells were concealed. We have successfully identified 54 pilgrimage sites and recovered all 19 wells. It is our duty to reclaim what belongs to us," the Chief Minister stated.

The High Court is set to hear further arguments on the whitewashing request on March 10, when the ASI is expected to submit its response.