Court Extends Stay on Demolition Order in Sanjauli Mosque Case
Shimla, May 29:
A local court in Shimla has extended the stay on the demolition order of the controversial Sanjauli mosque. The matter was heard today in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, where the Waqf Board challenged the Shimla Municipal Corporation’s decision declaring the mosque illegal and ordering its demolition. The next hearing is scheduled for July 5, 2025, and the stay will remain in effect until then.
The Waqf Board had filed an appeal against the Municipal Corporation’s order, arguing that the mosque is a longstanding religious site. At the previous hearing on May 26, the court had granted an interim stay. During today’s proceedings, the Municipal Corporation submitted its formal response.
Municipal Corporation Deems Mosque Illegal
The dispute over the mosque, located in Shimla’s Sanjauli area, intensified after the Municipal Commissioner’s court, on May 3, 2025, declared the structure entirely illegal and ordered its demolition. An earlier order, dated October 5, 2024, had called for the removal of the mosque’s top three floors. However, the mosque committee failed to comply, prompting the court to extend the demolition order to the remaining two floors during the May hearing.
Waqf Board’s Argument and the Court’s Response
During the hearing, the Waqf Board’s counsel argued that the mosque predates 1947 and that recent construction was merely a reconstruction of the original structure. They claimed the site holds historic and religious significance. In response, the court questioned why no official permission was sought from the Municipal Corporation for the new construction if the mosque already existed.
Escalation of the Dispute in 2024
The issue gained traction following communal tensions in the Malyana area of Shimla on August 29, 2024, during which one person was injured. Just days later, on September 1, tensions rose outside the Sanjauli mosque, sparking questions about its construction legality.
On September 11, several Hindu organizations staged protests against the mosque, attempting to march toward it by breaking through police barricades. The police had to resort to force to contain the situation, which resulted in injuries to both protesters and law enforcement personnel.
The case continues to stir debate in Shimla, with the court’s final decision now eagerly awaited.
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