New twist in Shimla Masjid dispute, Muslim organization will challenge the order of Municipal Commissioner Court.

A Muslim organization from Himachal Pradesh has decided to challenge the Shimla Municipal Commissioner Court’s order to demolish three unauthorized floors of the disputed Sanjauli Mosque.

Krishna Bihari Singh PTI, ShimlaWed, 9 Oct 2024 07:16 PM share

A Muslim organization in Himachal Pradesh has decided not to comply with the Shimla Municipal Commissioner Court’s order to demolish three illegal floors of the disputed Sanjauli Mosque. The organization says that it will challenge this order in the court of appellate authority. Shimla Municipal Commissioner (MC) Court had on October 5 ordered the demolition of three unauthorized floors of the disputed five-storey Sanjauli Mosque in Shimla.

The Shimla Municipal Commissioner (MC) Court had given two months’ time to the Waqf Board and the Chairman of the Mosque Committee to comply with its orders. The court had found that the committee itself had offered to demolish the unauthorized portion of the mosque. All Himachal Muslim Organization (AHMO) said that this order will be challenged in the court of appellate authority.

All Himachal Muslim Organization (AHMO) state spokesperson Nazakat Ali Hashmi said in an official statement that the organization’s meeting called to review the MC court order unanimously concluded that those who pledged to demolish the unauthorized floors of the mosque. People had no such rights. The order passed by the MC Court is contrary to the facts.

AHMO state spokesperson Nazakat Ali Hashmi said that this land belongs to the Waqf Board. The mosque is 125 years old. Its destinations are not illegal. The authorities have the right to approve the map, but the MC court ordered the demolition of three floors of the mosque. This is a matter of curbing our rights, damaging our religious places and hurting our religious sentiments. It will be taken to the Supreme Court.

Hashmi said that after getting the certified copy of the order, we will appeal in the court of the appellate authority. Let us tell you that on September 11, local people had protested in Sanjauli area demanding the demolition of a part of the mosque. 10 people were injured in this. A day later, the Muslim Welfare Committee submitted a memorandum to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner to seal the unauthorized portion of the mosque and said that they themselves would demolish the unauthorized portion.