'Peace and harmony must be maintained': Supreme Court halts trial court's survey order of Sambhal mosque

The top court on Friday stressed on the importance of maintenance of "peace and harmony".

Besides, it has asked the management committee of the Shahi Idgah Masjid to approach the high court against the trial court order.

"We do not want anything to happen till they move High Court. The trial court will not give effect to its order," said the top court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar as quoted by The Times of India.

"Peace and harmony must be maintained at all costs," the bench added.

Tension prevailed in the town since last month after a local court ordered a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid.

The order was passed after a plea claiming a Harihar temple existed at the site until Babar demolished it.

The first round of the survey was conducted in the previous week. The violence broke out during the second round on Sunday. 

When the survey team reached the site, a mob started shouting slogans and soon the scenario escalated to clash and violence forcing the cops to use force to take control of the situation.

Thirty-six cops were injured after a mob pelted stones at the survey team and police personnel in the western Uttar Pradesh town.

Several vehicles were torched.