Shimla court orders partial demolition of Sanjauli mosque floors after Hindutva demand
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The Shimla Municipal Commissioner Court has ordered the demolition of the top three floors of a mosque in Sanjauli, a district in Shimla, following mounting pressure from Hindutva organisations.
The demolition order, issued on Saturday, stems from claims that portions of the mosque were constructed illegally. Since early September, these groups have been urging authorities to take action, which culminated in a municipal court ruling in favour of partial demolition.
The tensions surrounding the mosque were ignited by a scuffle between two shopkeepers from different communities. This incident intensified the demands by Hindutva groups for the mandatory registration of migrant workers and called for the mosque’s demolition.
On September 11, a protest against the mosque took a violent turn when demonstrators, marching towards the structure, clashed with police officers. The confrontation left around ten people, including police personnel and women, injured.
The Waqf Board, representing the mosque, has been engaged in the legal battle over the mosque’s construction. The municipal court has given the mosque committee two months to proceed with the demolition of the top three floors, following the order. Additionally, the court is expected to take further decisions regarding the remaining structure after a hearing scheduled for December.
The controversy surrounding the mosque reached the Himachal Pradesh Assembly earlier in September when members of the ruling Congress party clashed over the issue. State Minister Anirudh Singh and Congress MLA Harish Janartha exchanged arguments during the assembly session on September 4, highlighting the divisive nature of the dispute.
The Waqf Board has maintained that the mosque is its property, with the disagreement centring on the construction of additional floors. A Muslim welfare committee also took action on September 12 by requesting the municipal commissioner to seal the unauthorised section of the mosque, further intensifying the row.
