In a legal development, the Shimla district court has ordered the demolition of three unauthorised floors of a mosque in the Sanjauli area of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The ruling, which came after weeks of local protests and heightened tensions, mandates that both the Waqf Board and the mosque committee bear the cost of the demolition.
According to the court’s directive, the mosque’s committee and the Waqf Board 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.
“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,” said B. S. Thakur, the lawyer representing the Waqf Board in this case. Speaking to reporters, Thakur confirmed that the court had granted a time limit of two months to complete the demolition, with further decisions pending regarding the rest of the structure. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 21, where additional matters regarding the mosque’s construction will be deliberated.
Tensions surrounding the mosque had been escalating for over a month. Last month, large-scale protests erupted in the Sanjauli area as residents, backed by various Hindu organisations, rallied against what they termed “illegal construction” of the mosque. The discontent reached a peak on September 11, when a bandh was called by Hindu groups to press their demands.
During the bandh, protestors clashed with security forces, leading to chaotic scenes as demonstrators broke through barricades and entered the Dhalli Tunnel East portal. Slogans were raised, and local businesses were shut down in response to the unrest. The protests were fueled by the demand for immediate action against the mosque’s construction, which many residents viewed as a violation of local building regulations.
The mosque committee, in response to the court order, has provided an official undertaking to comply with the directive and demolish the unauthorised floors. However, the fate of the remaining portion of the building remains uncertain and will be decided in the upcoming court sessions.
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.
