HC notice to UP over demolition of mosque

The Allahabad High Court has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government following a petition challenging the demolition of a mosque on the Collectorate premises in Saharanpur. The court stayed the recovery of ₹6.41 crore in damages imposed on the mosque management and set the next hearing for October. The eviction and demolition of the 315-square-metre mosque were ordered by the city magistrate under the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction and Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1972.

The petition was filed by advocate Mohammad Tanveer Ahmad, who argued that the eviction order was passed without properly determining the ownership of the land. The district court dismissed the appeal against the order on September 2, leading to the mosque's demolition on September 5. The Uttar Pradesh government and Abdul Hamid, the mosque's manager/maulavi, have been directed to file responses within three weeks.

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