Shimla District Court Upholds Sanjauli Mosque Demolition Order; Waqf Board and Mosque Committee's Plea Rejected

In a significant ruling, the District Court of Shimla has upheld the order to demolish the Sanjauli Mosque, dismissing appeals filed by the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board and the Sanjauli Mosque Committee. The court's decision, delivered by Additional District Judge Yajuvender Singh on Thursday, affirms the May 3rd order of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner's Court, which declared the entire five-story structure unauthorized and directed its removal.

The legal battle, which has been ongoing for months, reached a critical juncture as the District Court confirmed that all floors of the mosque were constructed illegally and in violation of municipal building norms. The Waqf Board had challenged the initial demolition order, arguing that only parts of the mosque were disputed. However, the court dismissed the appeal, asserting that the entire structure stands in contravention of municipal regulations.

The dispute over the mosque's legality dates back to 2024, when the issue sparked widespread protests in Shimla. In September 2024, hundreds of local residents and members of various organizations demonstrated in Sanjauli, demanding the demolition of the "illegal structure". The protests grew tense, leading to heavy police deployment and the use of water cannons to control the situation.

The Shimla Municipal Corporation had sought to verify all documents related to the construction, following public pressure and continued hearings. Officials found that the building lacked proper approval under the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Act, and no no-objection certificates were submitted for its construction.

The Municipal Commissioner's Court had previously ruled on the matter, initially ordering the demolition of the top three floors of the five-story building in October 2024 due to a lack of approvals. On May 3, 2025, the same court ruled that the remaining two floors were also constructed illegally, as the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board failed to produce ownership documents, building permits, or sanctioned plans.

Advocate Jagat Pal, representing local residents, stated that the Waqf Board failed to produce ownership documents or an approved construction plan for the mosque. He said, “All five floors of the disputed structure in Sanjauli will be demolished. The entire construction is unauthorized".

The court emphasized that construction activities in violation of sanctioned plans cannot be regularized under any circumstances. Municipal officials stated that the next course of action would be taken in accordance with the court's directions. Sources in the Waqf Board indicated they may approach a higher court. Mohammad Latif, representative of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, said that further action will be taken after they receive a copy of the decision and that they may move to the High Court and the Supreme Court if required.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed the district court's decision, saying it would pave the way for similar actions against “illegal” mosque constructions.

The Sanjauli mosque case had been pending before the municipal commissioner's court for nearly 16 years, with over 50 hearings held during this period. The Himachal Pradesh High Court had intervened and directed the MC to take a final decision within eight weeks, resulting in the May 3 order that has now been reaffirmed by the district court.