Mosque demolition consent: Court seeks clarity from board

Shimla: A district court has directed the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board to clarify by Nov 22 under what authority Latif Mohammad and others consented to demolish the top three floors of the controversial Sanjauli mosque, constructed beyond permissible limits.
The court’s directive came during a hearing on an appeal that the All-Himachal Muslim Organisation (AHMO) had filed to challenge an Oct 5 order from Shimla’s municipal commissioner, which had allowed the mosque’s top floors to be removed based on the statements of Latif Mohammad and other members of the committee. AHMO’s advocate Vishva Bhushan argued that Latif was not president of the Sanjauli mosque committee and so he lacked the authority to make statements before the municipal commissioner’s court under Section 18 of the Waqf Act.
The dispute intensified following a massive protest in Sanjauli last week, during which 10 people, including police officers, were injured. Protesters demanded the demolition of the illegally constructed floors, leading Latif and other members of the committee to agree to carry out the demolition themselves. The case highlights ongoing tensions over unauthorised construction in Shimla, raising questions about governance, legal processes, and communal harmony in the region.