Himachal Pradesh News : Sanjauli mosque demolition resumes after Himachal HC order

Demolition of the unauthorised portions of the controversial Sanjauli mosque resumed on Thursday, following directions from the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The Sanjauli Mosque Committee and the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board began razing the remaining illegal floors in compliance with the court’s recent order.

In its latest hearing, the High Court directed the committee and the Waqf Board to demolish the top three floors of the structure, which had earlier been declared illegal by the Commissioner’s Court of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC).

The mosque, a five-storeyed structure, had initially seen demolition of its top two floors after the Commissioner’s Court ordered removal of the unauthorised construction. However, the process was halted when the decision was challenged before the District Court.

Subsequently, the District Court upheld the Commissioner’s ruling and ordered complete demolition of the illegal portions. The Waqf Board then approached the High Court, which granted status quo protection to the first two floors but directed demolition of the remaining unauthorised floors. The matter is next scheduled to be heard on March 9.

An office-bearer of the Waqf Board said the mosque committee had already demolished the top two floors and a portion of the third floor earlier, but the work had stalled due to financial constraints. He added that the demolition has now resumed using the committee’s own resources and would be completed shortly.

Meanwhile, on December 15, a delegation of the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, which has been actively raising the issue, submitted a memorandum to Municipal Commissioner Bhupinder Attri, demanding immediate removal of the illegal construction.

The Samiti also offered voluntary labour free of cost, stating that it was willing to assist if the Municipal Corporation or the Waqf Board was unable to complete the demolition work on its own.

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