Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
The Shimla MC commissioner court has ordered the demolition of three unauthorised floors of a mosque in the Sanjauli area of Shimla. The ruling, which came after weeks of local protests and heightened tensions, mandates the mosque committee bear the cost of the demolition.
The Court has given two months to the Masjid committee and Waqf Board to complete the demolition process. The next date of hearing in the case is December 21.
“The court has passed orders that the Masjid committee and Waqf Board should demolish the top three floors of the mosque at their own cost. The time limit of two months has been given for the demolition. In due course, it will be decided about the rest of the portion of the building. The next date of hearing is 21st December. The mosque committee has given the undertaking to demolish the top three floors,” said the lawyer representing Waqf Board in the case.
“The Masjid Committee will comply with the order to demolish (unauthorised floors of the mosque) within two months,” he added.
The row over a 14-year-old four-story building erupted in August after some people, allegedly associated with the Sanjauli mosque, assaulted a local merchant with rods and sticks. The attack, which resulted in Malayana businessman Yashpal Singh ending up in hospital, stirred the outsider-local issue in the sensitive region. Himachal Police then arrested six people named, Gulnawaz (32), Sarik (20), Saif Ali (23), Rohit (23), and two minors, who were reportedly residents of Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar.
The row intensified after the accused allegedly took shelter in the mosque and was later discovered there. Since the incident, locals have been protesting against the Sanjauli mosque, alleging it was illegally constructed.
According to the court’s directive, the mosque’s committee have been given a strict deadline of two months to carry out the demolition. This decision follows claims by local residents and Hindu organisations that the construction was illegal, sparking protests and demands for action.
This case has garnered significant attention in Himachal Pradesh, with many viewing it as a test of local authorities’ ability to address concerns surrounding illegal constructions and uphold the rule of law. With the next hearing set for December, further developments are anticipated as the demolition proceeds and additional legal arguments are heard.
