Sanjauli Mosque: Shimla court rejects Muslim organization’s plea against order to demolish three floors

Shimla: The district court here on Saturday dismissed a petition filed by the All Himachal Muslim Organization against the Municipal Commissioner’s Court’s October 5 order to demolish three “illegally” constructed floors of the Sanjauli Mosque. Vishva Bhushan, counsel for All Himachal Muslim Organization (AHMO), told reporters here that their application has been rejected and a detailed order is awaited.

On September 11, there were violent protests against demands for the demolition of an allegedly illegal part of the mosque. Several Hindu groups and locals took part in the protests.

A day later, Latif Mohammad, who claimed to be president of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, and others offered to demolish the mosque’s three “unauthorized” floors and sought permission from the city commissioner.

The municipal commissioner’s court had on October 5 approved the demolition of three illegally constructed floors and given two months to complete the operation. Subsequently, the AHMO appealed the order to the district court, claiming that Latif did not have the authority to provide representation for demolition of the mosque structure.

On November 22, the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board submitted to the district court a 2006 document appointing Latif Mohammad as the president of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee.

Latif had also claimed that “I have been the president of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee since 2006 and the Municipal Commissioners Court also terminated me as president in September.” Meanwhile, Latif said, “We have appealed to the Commissioner’s Court that due to labor shortage, the demolition work of the remaining floors cannot begin until March.” He said that most of the workers have returned to their native places and the demolition work has also been carried out by the Weather conditions in winter depend.

“Whatever decision the court makes, we will accept it,” he said.

Demolition work had previously begun with the removal of the roofs.