The Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner’s Court on Saturday ordered the demolition of the entire Sanjauli Mosque, ruling that all five storeys of the structure were unauthorised. The decision was based on the failure of the Waqf Board to produce ownership documents and sanctioned building plans, according to a lawyer involved in the case.
Advocate Jagat Pal, representing local residents demanding the demolition, said that the Waqf Board did not furnish the required ownership documents or any approved building plans. “The court of Municipal Commissioner Bhupendra Atri passed the order for the demolition of the mosque,” Pal said, as per news agency PTI.
The case gained momentum after a section of Sanjauli residents and Hindu organisations launched an agitation, alleging that the mosque was constructed illegally and demanding its removal. However, the Municipal Corporation reportedly did not act on the matter for the past 15 years.
Sanjauli Mosque Case
On October 5, 2024, the MC court had initially ordered the demolition of the top three unauthorised storeys and asked the Waqf Board to submit documents regarding the sanctioned plans of the remaining two floors. With the Waqf Board failing to do so, the court has now directed that the entire structure be razed.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court had earlier directed the Municipal Commissioner to decide the matter within three months, setting a deadline of May 8. The MC Court issued its final order after hearing both parties.
In defence, the Waqf Board’s counsel argued that the mosque had existed prior to 1947 and was reconstructed after the original structure was demolished. However, the court questioned why no approval was sought from the Municipal Corporation for the reconstruction and why the construction was carried out in violation of building regulations.
Following the earlier order, demolition work had already begun on the top three storeys. The roof of the mosque, two lanterns from the fourth storey, and walls from two levels had been removed. With the latest ruling, the demolition of the entire mosque has now been mandated.
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