- By Sahelee Rakshit
- Sat, 03 May 2025 04:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Sanjauli Mosque Demolition: The hearing of the controversial Sanjauli Mosque in Himachal Pradesh was held today, May 3, in Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner Court. During the proceedings, the Commissioner ordered the demolition of the remaining two lower floors of the mosque structure.
According to the court’s directive, the Waqf Board was expected to present valid ownership documents for the mosque land along with a structural map. However, the Board's legal representatives were unable to produce the required documents or effectively argue their case in court.
The decision was rendered by Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhupinder Atri after 1:00 PM, in which it was unequivocally said that the mosque as a whole is illegal and needs to be destroyed.
The Waqf Board's lawyer argued that the mosque at the disputed site existed before 1947 and was later demolished and reconstructed. However, Advocate Jagat Palne, representing a local resident of Sanjauli, pointed out that the Municipal Corporation Court questioned why the necessary approvals, including a structural map and demolition permission, were not obtained from the Municipal Corporation if the mosque was indeed rebuilt after 1947.
What Is Sanjauli Mosque Case?
The Sanjauli Mosque controversy began following an incident involving the assault of youths in Matiyana, Shimla, which led to protests by Hindu organisations. In response to growing tensions, the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, on September 11, offered to demolish the section of the mosque that was alleged to be illegal. On October 5, the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court approved the demolition of three floors of the mosque.