Mosque panel seeks approval of Waqf Board for demolition

In view of the Commissioner’s Court directing the Sanjauli Mosque Committee to demolish the three unauthorized storeys of the mosque located in Sanjauli area in the state’s capital, the Sanjauli Mosque Committee has sought permission of the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board for the same.

In a letter written to the Waqf Board, the committee has stated that the property in question is in the supervision and management of the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board. Therefore, the board is requested to issue the necessary direction so that action may be taken in the light of the order of the Municipal Commissioner’s Court.

President, Sanjauli Mosque Committee Muhammad Latif, said the mosque is owned by the Waqf Board. The board is also party in the ongoing case. Therefore, the permission of the board is required to take further action.

“The letter has been sent to the CEO of the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board and further action will be taken as soon as the permission of the board is received,” he said.

The Commissioner’s Court on October 5 had directed the Sanjauli Mosque Committee to demolish the unauthorised floors within the next two months. The court had also directed the committee to bear all the expenses for razing the floors. The decision regarding the remaining two floors of the mosque will be taken on December 21.

The case, being heard in the Commissioner’s Court since 2010, came to limelight when several Hindu outfits started to raise the demand for the demolition of the mosque after a fight between a local and the people of a minority community in Malyana.

In September, Hindu outfits staged massive protests in Sanjauli and across the state on two different occasions through which they demanded that the mosque in Sanjauli as well as other illegal mosques within the state should be razed and proper verification of unidentified migrants should be ensured by the state government.

Order to raze three storeys

• The Commissioner’s court had directed the Mosque Committee to demolish the three unauthorised storeys of the mosque located in Sanjauli area of Shimla
• President, Sanjauli Mosque Committee, said the the Waqf Board owned the mosque and hence was also party to the case
• Therefore, the permission of the Wakq Board is required to take further action
• In September, Hindu outfits staged massive protests in Sanjauli and across the state demanding the demolition of the mosque