Members of the Dev Bhoomi Sangharsh Samiti have entered the tenth day of their hunger strike, demanding the demolition of the Sanjauli mosque located in the suburbs of Shimla. This action comes as the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board filed a petition in the High Court on Friday, contesting a district court ruling that deemed the mosque “unauthorised.”
The dispute originated from an order issued on October 30, in which the district court upheld a prior decision by the Shimla Municipal Commissioner’s Court to demolish the shrine by December 30. In light of this, the Samiti has been advocating for the mosque’s immediate sealing and the disconnection of its water and electricity supplies.
The Waqf Board has now reached out to the High Court to challenge both the municipal commissioner’s and the district court’s decisions. The hearing set for Monday will determine whether the board’s petition is maintainable.
Despite warnings from Samiti members against visiting the mosque for Friday prayers, a few devotees attended, and no incidents of violence were reported. The protestors performed a “shashtra pooja” at the protest site, signaling their readiness to take further actions if necessary.
Vijay Sharma, co-convenor of the Samiti, indicated that they are awaiting a meeting with the administration on November 29 to discuss their next steps. He described the act of praying at a structure labeled “illegal” as “unfortunate” and criticized some worshippers for allegedly heightening tensions, while acknowledging the cooperation of the majority.
According to a 2024 report by Sabrang India, the Sanjauli mosque is situated on waqf land that was donated in 1940, prior to the enactment of the Waqf Act in India. This land has been designated as a charitable endowment. As noted in the report, waqf properties are similar to charitable donations in Hindu traditions and cannot be privately claimed.
When the Waqf Act was passed in 1954, all waqf properties, including mosques and other community assets, were transferred under the jurisdiction of the Waqf Board. Government documents from that time reportedly confirm that the Sanjauli mosque is recognized as Waqf Board property. The facility also includes a hall to accommodate travelers from surrounding areas.
Historical records indicate that there had been no controversy surrounding the Sanjauli mosque until recently, when allegations about its legality surfaced. In September 2024, the situation escalated after right-wing groups, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad, called for the mosque’s demolition. Protests on September 11 devolved into violent confrontations, with demonstrators making Islamophobic statements and further dividing community sentiment.
A fact-finding report from the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) highlighted that tensions arose after an altercation involving both Hindu and Muslim individuals, which fueled rumors that some Muslims had sought refuge in the mosque. This incident heightened communal tensions and negatively impacted local businesses and residents.
The ongoing protests, hunger strikes, and legal disputes have intensified the conflict, placing the future of the Sanjauli mosque squarely in the hands of the High Court.
Tags: Sanjauli mosque: Waqf Board challenges demolition order in HC as Hindutva protests intensify Extract 5 SEO-friendly keywords as tags. Output only keywords, comma separated.
Hashtags: #Sanjauli #mosque #Waqf #Board #challenges #demolition #order #Hindutva #protests #intensify
