NSUI workers protest in Sambhal over transfer of CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer

NSUI workers protest in Sambhal against the Uttar Pradesh government’s on CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer’s transfer (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

On January 9, Chief Judicial Magistrate Vibhanshu Sudheer ordered the registration of an FIR against former Sambhal Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary, former Kotwali in-charge Anuj Tomar and other police personnel in connection with the November 24, 2024 violence (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The court directive stemmed from a petition by Yameen, whose son Alam was seriously injured by gunshot wounds allegedly sustained during the Sambhal unrest linked to a court-ordered Shahi Jama Masjid survey in November 2024 (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The November 24, 2024 clashes in Sambhal erupted during a second court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, resulting in at least five deaths and multiple injuries as tensions between locals and police escalated (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Local authorities reported that the mosque survey, ordered after a petition claiming the site was originally a temple, had triggered violent confrontations involving stone-pelting and firing, leading to casualties and significant unrest (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Despite CJM Sudheer’s order to register the FIR, Sambhal police publicly announced their refusal to lodge it, stating that a previous judicial inquiry had already been completed and that they would challenge the order in a higher court (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

On January 20, 2026, the Allahabad High Court transferred CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer to Sultanpur as a Civil Judge (Senior Division) as part of a wider reshuffle of 14 judicial officers (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Aditya Singh, previously serving as Civil Judge (Senior Division) at Chandausi and the magistrate who ordered the controversial mosque survey in 2024, was appointed as the new CJM of Sambhal (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Lawyers in Sambhal held protests outside the court complex against Sudheer’s transfer, arguing that the move undermined judicial independence and justice for victims of the 2024 violence (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The continuing dispute highlights deep legal and administrative tensions over police accountability, judicial orders and the handling of communal-linked unrest in Sambhal following the mosque survey violence (Source: Photo by Vishal Srivastava)