The Mosque Committee has started the work of demolishing the illegal part of the disputed mosque in Sanjauli, Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, on Monday. The court of Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Shimla has declared the three floors of the mosque illegal and has ordered to demolish it within two months.
The Mosque Committee has started the work of demolishing the illegal part of the disputed mosque in Sanjauli, Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, on Monday. The court of Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Shimla has declared the three floors of the mosque illegal and has ordered to demolish it within two months.
15 days after the court’s order, the work of demolishing the illegal portion of the mosque has started. This mosque is built on a residential area. There are many buildings adjacent to the mosque. In such a situation, it will take a lot of time to demolish the illegal three floors. Laborers have been deployed for this work. On the first day, the workers started removing the tin on the top floor of the mosque. The Mosque Committee has orders to demolish the illegal construction at its own expense.
The illegal construction is being demolished under the supervision of Sanjauli Masjid Committee head Latif Mohammad. Latif Mohammad said that it would cost a lot to demolish the illegal portion and funds were being raised for it. The mosque committee is arranging funds at its own level. We have not received funds from the state government or any other organization for this work. He also said that the fund management has not been done yet and a lot of funds are required for the work, hence it may take three to four months to demolish the illegal portion.
He said that the court will be requested to give additional time in the next hearing. He said that laborers are also being arranged for this work. He said that the Mosque Committee had sought permission from the Waqf Board to demolish the illegal construction. Now this work has been started after getting the permission of Waqf Board.
He said that to maintain peace, harmony and brotherhood, the Mosque Committee has decided to demolish the illegal construction. The decision of the Municipal Corporation Court has not been challenged. He said that the Mosque Committee itself had given a written application in the court to demolish these floors.
The upper three floors of the mosque are illegal, orders to demolish them within two months
There has been a huge uproar over the issue of illegal construction in Sanjauli Mosque. A hearing was held in the Municipal Corporation Court on October 5 regarding the illegal construction of this controversial four-storey mosque which is in the news. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhupendra Atri, while hearing the illegal construction of the mosque, has given important orders to the Mosque Committee. The upper three floors of the mosque are built illegally. The court has issued orders that the second, third and fourth floors of the mosque will have to be demolished.
Decision taken in 14 years, hearing held 46 times
The hearing regarding illegal construction in the mosque is going on in the Commissioner’s Court for the last 14 years. The Municipal Corporation Commissioner has given this decision on the 46th hearing. The Muslim side has been ordered to demolish three floors of the mosque within two months. The Waqf Board and the Mosque Committee have been asked to demolish three floors at their own expense. The court has scheduled the next hearing of the case on December 21, 2024.
Four floors were built in the mosque without permission
The construction of this controversial mosque of Sanjauli started in 2007. The local people declared the mosque illegal and filed a petition against it in the municipal court in 2010. Since then this matter is pending in the court. The Municipal Corporation officials are also being considered negligent in this entire matter. In fact, notices were repeatedly issued in the Municipal Court regarding the illegal construction of the mosque, but still four floors were erected illegally. The Municipal Corporation administration is also accused as to why the electricity and water connection was not disconnected due to illegal construction. The former head of the mosque committee told the court that till the year 2012, the mosque was two storeyed. After this illegal construction took place here.
There is chaos in the entire state over Sanjauli Masjid dispute.
There was chaos in the entire state on the issue of this mosque of Sanjauli. In the month of September, under the banner of Hindu organizations, Hindus are protesting on the streets in Shimla and other districts, demanding demolition of illegal mosques and registration of people of particular communities coming from outside. On September 11, Hindus had staged a violent protest in Sanjauli and tried to reach the disputed mosque site. During this time, the police tried to stop them by putting up barricades, which people broke and started moving forward. The police used water cannon and lathicharge to disperse the protesters. Many protesters were injured in this. Half a dozen police personnel were also injured. The interesting aspect is that after the issue of Sanjauli mosque became heated, cases of illegal construction came to light in mosques in other districts of the state and Hindus took to the streets and demonstrated.
Report: UK Sharma
