A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, urging a halt to the execution of court-ordered surveys targeting religious structures, which allegedly violate the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This move follows recent controversies surrounding the Sambhal Jama Masjid and Ajmer Dargah.

Petitioners Alok Sharma and Priya Mishra have sought the Supreme Court's intervention to restrain States from carrying out court-ordered surveys of religious structures, intended to verify claims that these were built over sites of other religious significance.

The petitioners have requested the Supreme Court to direct States, High Courts, and Trial Courts to adhere to the Places of Worship Act. Additionally, they seek a stay on the survey orders issued by the Courts in such cases.

"The petition appeals to issue instructions to all state governments and the administration of Union Territories that in order to maintain peace and harmony, they should not be in a hurry to comply with the orders of the civil court in such cases. Rather, these cases should be brought before the High Court and the Supreme Court so that the atmosphere in the country does not deteriorate," the petitioner said.

The petitioners stated that cases involving the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Bhojshala, Sambhal Jama Masjid, Mathura Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Masjid, and Gyanvapi are deteriorating the communal harmony of the country. They urged the Supreme Court to intervene and "put a stop to all these cases."

Last week, a trial court in Sambhal (UP) issued an order for the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Chandausi, in response to a lawsuit claiming that the 16th-century mosque was built over an ancient temple. The order triggered violence, resulting in the deaths of four people. A few days later, a court in Rajasthan issued a notice in a case seeking an ASI survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, with a claim that it was originally a Shiva temple.

The petitioners argue that such litigations are prohibited under the Places of Worship Act, which mandates that the status quo of religious structures be maintained as they existed on August 15, 1947.