Shimla. The District Court has also ordered the complete demolition of the disputed Sanjauli Mosque of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. The District Court of Shimla on Thursday upheld the order of the Municipal Corporation Commissioner Court. The Commissioner of Shimla Municipal Corporation had ordered the demolition of the lower two floors of the Sanjauli Masjid. Himachal Waqf Board had challenged this decision of the Municipal Corporation Commissioner in the District Court. Hearing the petition of the Waqf Board, the District Court said that the order given by the Municipal Corporation Commissioner on May 3, 2025 is correct and Sanjauli Masjid will have to be demolished.
Additional District Judge Yajuvendra Singh of Shimla District Court had heard the arguments of the lawyers of Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board and Municipal Corporation on 6 October 2025. After which he said that the verdict will be announced on 30 October 2025. On May 17, 2025, the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s Court had declared the Sanjauli mosque illegal. Earlier on May 26, the court had put an interim stay on the demolition of Sanjauli Masjid. After this, on May 29, the court had maintained the ban on demolition of the mosque till July 5. On July 11, the court found that the matter could be debated. There was a debate in the court on 6 September 2025. After which now the District Court has given its decision to demolish the mosque.
The case of Sanjauli Masjid of Shimla was going on in the court of Municipal Corporation Commissioner for a long time. On August 31, 2024, when two groups fought in Shimla, the dispute again heated up. In September last year, Hindu organizations had demonstrated against the Sanjauli Masjid. During which on September 11, the crowd became furious and the police had to use mild force. This enraged people further and people took to the streets at many places in Himachal Pradesh and protested. After increasing public opposition, on September 12, the Sanjauli Masjid Committee told the Municipal Corporation Commissioner Court that it would demolish the illegal portion. However, even before this, the Municipal Corporation Commissioner Court had ordered the demolition of the lower floors of the mosque. Now, if this decision is declared correct by the District Court, the Himachal Waqf Board is left with the option of going to the High Court and then the Supreme Court.
