Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has dismissed a plea against the partial demolition of a 400-year-old mosque in Saraspur, clearing the way for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to proceed with a road-widening project.
The Manch Masjid Trust had sought a four-week stay after the AMC ordered mosque authorities to vacate parts of the premises to make way for the development. Justice Mauna M Bhatt, however, refused the request, holding that the plea was legally flawed. The court ruled that the Waqf Act did not apply in this case, as the AMC commissioner acted under special powers granted by the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations (GPMC) Act.
The trust argued that the mosque, believed to be around four centuries old, held cultural and symbolic significance and had been renovated over the years to preserve its heritage. It contended that the demolition order violated constitutional protections of religious freedom and ignored objections submitted in January 2025.
The state government defended the project as essential to reducing traffic congestion and promoting urban development along the corridor linking Kalupur railway station with the Ahmedabad Metro junction. Officials said all procedures under the GPMC Act had been followed and reiterated that the Waqf Act was not applicable.
The court accepted these arguments, stating that the project served public interest and conformed to the law.
The issue has drawn comparisons with a similar case last year, when the demolition of a 500-year-old mosque, dargah and graveyard in Gir Somnath district triggered protests. A petition challenging that move was dismissed by the Supreme Court, which upheld the state government’s stance that the demolitions were legally valid.