Shimla: Muslim Body To Challenge Court's Order Against Sanjauli Mosque

Shimla: A Muslim body of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday decided not to comply with the orders of Shimla Municipal Commissioner's Court to demolish three "unauthorised" storeys of the disputed Sanjauli mosque.

The Shimla Municipal Commissioner's (MC) Court had on October 5 ordered demolition of three "unauthorised" stories of the disputed five-storey Sanjauli mosque in Shimla. It gave two months time to the Waqf Board and the president of the Mosque Committee to execute the orders. The Court observed that the committee had itself offered to demolish the unauthorised portion of the mosque.

The All Himachal Muslim's Organisation (AHMO) said the order would be challenged in the court of appellate authority.

Court ordered demolition of unauthorised section of Sanjauli mosque in Shimla

"A meeting of the organisation held in Shimla to review the order of the MC Court unanimously concluded that the persons who gave undertaking to demolish the unauthorised stories of the mosque had no authority to make any such submission and the orders passed by the MC Court are contrary to the facts," said AHMO state spokesperson Nazakat Ali Hashmi in a statement issued.

He said the land belongs to the Waqf Board. The mosque is 125 years old and the unauthorised storeys are not illegal, he added. Hashmi said even though the approval of maps is lying with the authorities, the MC Court ordered demolition of the storeys.

"The matter regarding curbing of our rights, unsuccessful attempt to damage our religious places and hurting our sentiments would be taken to the Supreme Court," he added.

Referring to the Mosque Committee members, Hashmi said the people who gave representation and which was made the basis for passing the order were neither authorised by the Waqf Board nor they were the office-bearers of any Muslim organisation.

"It was their personal opinion and the Muslim community does not agree with it," he said.

Hashmi said the MC Court passed the orders on the basis of the application of some individuals and did not bother to ascertain the owner of the land, the stakeholders, those who are authorised to demolish the structure and those who are authorised to plead the case.

"We will appeal in the court of the appellate authority after we receive the certified copy of the order and fight till the Supreme Court," Hashmi added.

On September 11, 10 people were injured during a protest demanding demolition of a portion of a mosque in Sanjauli area.

A day later, the Muslim Welfare Committee gave a representation to municipal corporation commissioner asking to seal an unauthorised portion of the mosque located in Sanjauli in Shimla and said they will themselves demolish the unauthorised portion.

"We had already offered to demolish the unauthorised floors of the mosque on September 12 and we have no objection with the order. We are ready to demolish the unauthorised floors," Sanjauli Mosque Committee president Muhammad Latif had said.

After the Sanjauli protest, water cannons were used in Mandi on protests demanding demolition of encroachment by a mosque on government land in Mandi town.

Similar demands were raised at several other places in the state which were followed by protests in district headquarters demanding scrapping of Waqf Board and identification and verification of migrants coming to work in the state.