Sanjauli Mosque Demolition Ordered by Municipal Court in Major Ruling

Shimla, May 3: In a significant development, the Municipal Corporation Court in Shimla on Friday ordered the demolition of a mosque located in the Sanjauli area, terming the structure illegal. The verdict was delivered by Municipal Commissioner Bhupinder Atri, who presided over the court proceedings earlier in the day.

Earlier, the court had directed the Waqf Board to submit ownership documents for the land as well as the approved construction plan for the mosque. However, during the hearing, the board’s legal representative failed to produce sufficient proof of ownership or provide any sanctioned building plan.

The Waqf Board argued that the mosque had existed at the location since before 1947, and the current structure had merely replaced the old one. In response, the court questioned whether official permission had been obtained from the municipal authorities for the reconstruction. It further asked if a proper building plan had ever been submitted or approved.

Upon review, the court found that the construction had been carried out in complete violation of building norms and without any authorization from the Municipal Corporation. After deliberations lasting nearly 45 minutes, Commissioner Atri delivered the ruling shortly after 1 PM, stating unequivocally that the mosque structure was unauthorized and must be demolished in full.

This ruling marks a turning point in the long-standing dispute surrounding the Sanjauli mosque and sends a clear message: no religious or non-religious structure can be deemed legal without formal permission and compliance with municipal regulations.