Shimla Sanjauli Mosque Dispute: Court Orders Demolition of Upper Floors
In a significant ruling, the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner’s court has ordered the demolition of the second, third, and fourth floors of the Sanjauli Mosque. The court’s decision came after finding that the construction violated building regulations and encroached on public land. The mosque’s management has been directed to comply with the order within a stipulated time frame.
Shimla, October 5: In a significant ruling, the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner’s court has ordered the demolition of the second, third, and fourth floors of the Sanjauli Mosque. The court’s decision came after finding that the construction violated building regulations and encroached on public land. The mosque’s management has been directed to comply with the order within a stipulated time frame.
In the ongoing Sanjauli Mosque case, the MC Commissioner Court has delivered a crucial verdict, instructing the demolition of the mosque’s second, third, and fourth floors. This ruling comes after the mosque committee submitted a formal application to the commissioner, prompting the court’s intervention.
The court has mandated that the demolition of the second, third, and fourth floors take place within the next two months. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on 21st December 2024, where further proceedings will be discussed.
It is important to note that the lawyer representing the local residents had previously called for the complete demolition of the mosque. The first notice from the MC was issued back in 2011, questioning how a five-story structure had been constructed by 2018. Despite repeated requests, the mosque’s management failed to provide any records to the MC. According to the 1997-98 records, the land in question was originally owned by the Himachal Government, and there was no mosque present at that time. The entire building was declared illegal. The case was last heard on 7th September.
The issue surrounding the Sanjauli Mosque has sparked widespread protests across the state. Hindu organizations, rallying under various banners, have taken to the streets in Shimla and other districts, demanding the demolition of illegal mosques and the registration of individuals from outside the community. On September 11, tensions escalated in Sanjauli when local Hindus attempted to march towards the disputed mosque site in a violent protest. Police set up barricades to prevent them from advancing, but protesters breached them and continued their march, resulting in a standoff.
To disperse the escalating crowd, police deployed water cannons and resorted to lathi charges, leading to injuries among several protesters. Additionally, half a dozen police officers sustained injuries during the clash. In a surprising turn of events, as the Sanjauli mosque dispute gained momentum, reports of illegal constructions at mosques in other districts also emerged, prompting further protests by Hindus in those areas. In September, the Municipal Corporation court in Mandi issued an order for the demolition of an illegal mosque structure there, adding fuel to the growing controversy.
14-Year Legal Battle: Shimla MC Court Weighs Mosque’s Unauthorized Four-Story Construction
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