Sanjauli Mosque Case: Sessions Court stays demolition orders till case remains sub judice

The Session’s Court of Shimla on Thursday directed that the stay on the demolition of the mosque located in Sanjauli would continue till the case was sub judice.

The orders were passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge Yajuvender Singh.

During the hearing, Shimla Municipal Corporation argued that the Commissioner Court’s decision to demolish the mosque should remain intact and stay order should not be issued. However, after hearing the argument, the court agreed that the case was worth hearing, therefore, the demolition orders passed by the Commissioner’s Court should be stayed.

The next hearing of the case is scheduled for July 5.

Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board office-bearer Qutubuddin said as per the orders, the entire structure of the mosque would not be demolished till the case was being heard. He said abiding to the previous orders issued by the Commissioner’s Court to demolish the top three floors of the five-storey mosque, at least 70 per cent of the demolition work was completed.

On May 3, the Commissioner’s Court had directed the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board as well as the Sanjauli Mosque Committee to demolish the remaining two floors of the mosque, after they were unable to provide the revenue records as well as the documents regarding the ownership of the land, on which the mosque was constructed. After the decision of the Commissioner’s Court, the Waqf Board approached the Session’s Court, where they challenged the decision and pleaded for a stay order.

The case that was being heard in the Commissioner’s Court since 2010 came to limelight after a fight between several people that occurred in Malyana led to the demand of the demolition of the mosque.

During this period, people associated with Hindu outfits also staged protests on two separate occasion. On October 5, 2024, the court directed the mosque committee as well as the Waqf Board to demolish the top three floors of the mosque after they were found illegal.