Shimla Court Rejects Local Residents’ Application in Sanjauli Mosque Demolition Dispute

Keywords ; Sanjauli mosque case, court ruling, Shimla, unauthorized construction, local residents’ application, AHMO, demolition order

In a significant development in the Sanjauli mosque case, a Shimla court on Thursday dismissed an application by local residents seeking to be made a party to the ongoing legal dispute. The case centers around an order by the municipal commissioner’s court, dated October 5, which authorized the demolition of three unauthorized floors of the Sanjauli mosque, a five-storey structure in Shimla, within a two-month timeframe.

The application, filed by local residents in the court of the additional district judge on November 11, was intended to allow them to participate in the case. Represented by Advocate Jagat Pal, the residents had presented a detailed, 25-page submission to support their request to join the proceedings. Despite this effort, the court ultimately rejected the application. Advocate Pal commented that while the decision was not favorable, it would likely not have a significant impact on the core issues of the case.

The case itself has attracted considerable attention due to previous public protests in September. On September 11, a demonstration in the Sanjauli area of Shimla turned violent, leaving ten people injured. The protestors were demanding the demolition of the mosque’s additional unauthorized floors. In response to the public outcry, Latif Mohammad, the mosque’s president, along with other community members, voluntarily offered to remove the unauthorized construction. They subsequently sought official permission from the municipal commissioner to proceed with the demolition.

The municipal commissioner’s court subsequently approved the demolition. However, this order was challenged by the All Himachal Muslim Organisation (AHMO), which filed an appeal questioning the maintainability of the demolition order. The Shimla court is now tasked with assessing the validity of this appeal, and has set the next hearing date for November 18.

This ongoing case highlights the legal and social complexities that often arise when unauthorized constructions intersect with community sentiments and regulatory enforcement. As the Shimla court moves forward with hearing AHMO’s appeal, the outcome could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in the future, particularly in cases involving sensitive community structures and the enforcement of municipal regulations.

Stay tuned for live updates on the rupee’s movement and real-time business news on Kanishk Social Media—your go-to source for comprehensive stock market and legal news.