Shimla: Demolition Work At Sanjauli Mosque Begins After Court Orders Removal of 3 'Illegal' Floors

The Sanjauli Mosque dispute began with an incident in the Malyana area of Shimla, where a Hindu man was allegedly assaulted by six individuals.

As per the October 5 ruling, the demolition work has to be completed within two months (Image: IANS)

Source : IANS

Shimla News: The authorities in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla started the demolition process of illegal portions of the Sanjauli mosque on Monday. The demolition process began from the roof of the structure after the mosque committee received permission from the Waqf Board. 

Confirming the development, the Chairman of the mosque committee, Mohd Latif Negi said, "Waqf Board has allowed us to start the work but they have said that they will not pay...we will speak to them and the court..."

#WATCH | Sanjauli Mosque issue | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: Chairman of the mosque committee, Mohd Latif Negi says, "Waqf Board has allowed us to start the work but they have said that they will not pay...we will speak to them and the court..." pic.twitter.com/2c7ptiUNWK

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2024

The move came days after the court of the Shimla municipal commissioner ordered the removal of three unauthorised floors--second, third and fourth-- of the controversial structure in Himachal Pradesh. As per the October 5 ruling, the demolition work has to be completed within two months. 

This decision follows an application by the mosque committee, which had itself proposed the demolition after the mosque structure became a point of contention between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Shimla.

Himachal Pradesh: Demolition of an illegal mosque in Sanjauli has commenced following a court order. The mosque committee received permission from the Waqf Board and must complete the demolition within two months pic.twitter.com/yBu7mD5nas

— IANS (@ians_india) October 21, 2024

The court ordered that the demolition be carried out at the mosque committee's expense. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 21.

'Long-Standing Demolition Demand'

The Waqf Board, which claims ownership of the land, had earlier justified the construction, stating it followed proper regulations. However, the Board failed to provide documentation to support its claims. Residents had demanded the demolition, and the Municipal Corporation first issued a notice in 2011. Despite these actions, the mosque had expanded into a five-storey building by 2018 under several governments, without adequate records to show approvals.

The controversy has also triggered protests, with Hindu organisations calling for the demolition of other ‘illegal’ mosques across Himachal Pradesh. The issue had also reached the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, where Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh supported the demolition, and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasised that all state residents, regardless of religion, deserve equal respect.

The Sanjauli Mosque Row

The Sanjauli Mosque dispute began with an incident in the Malyana area of Shimla, where a Hindu man was allegedly assaulted by six individuals. The victim, who sustained serious injuries, filed a police complaint, claiming that the assailants had taken refuge in a nearby mosque. Following this, several Hindu organisations staged protests, demanding the mosque's demolition, asserting that it was an illegal structure.