In the ongoing Sanjauli mosque demolition case, a crucial hearing took place on Saturday in the court of Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhupendra Atri.
The commissioner ordered the Sanjauli Mosque Committee and the Waqf Board to submit a detailed reply concerning the remaining two floors of the mosque, including the ground and first floors. This follows an earlier order by the Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court to demolish three upper floors, which have been declared illegal but still stand intact.
The court’s directive now requires the Sanjauli Mosque Committee and the Waqf Board to clarify their stance on these floors. Once their replies are submitted, a new hearing date will be scheduled to continue proceedings on the case.
Estate Officer Qutubuddin, representing the Waqf Board, confirmed that parallel hearings were also ongoing in the district court. The Muslim side, led by the Waqf Board and the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, has filed a petition in the district court to challenge the Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s decision to demolish three floors of the mosque. This petition is set for a hearing on November 18.
According to the Muslim side, Mohammad Latif, president of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, had previously made a written proposal to demolish three floors of the mosque voluntarily. Despite this, the Municipal Corporation Commissioner has summoned both the Waqf Board and the Mosque Committee to provide an updated status report on the current structure.
The Sanjauli mosque demolition case continues to stir significant public interest, with local authorities and the Waqf Board remaining engaged in complex legal proceedings. The next stages of the case hinge on both the district court hearing and the upcoming response from the mosque’s representatives.
