In a significant development in the Sanjauli mosque dispute, the Shimla Municipal Court on Saturday ordered the demolition of the remaining two floors of the controversial mosque, citing illegal construction and failure by the Waqf Board to submit ownership documents. This verdict has triggered a political storm, with BJP MP Anurag Thakur sharply criticising the Waqf Board’s handling of the case.
Speaking to the media on Monday at Dharamshala airport, Thakur asserted that the construction of the mosque in Sanjauli was illegal, claiming that even after several months, the Waqf Board failed to produce any documents proving legal ownership of the land.
“The mindset of the Waqf Board is that they will never show documents. The way the mosque was constructed in Shimla’s Sanjauli was illegal,” Thakur said. “There are thousands of such cases across the country where land was occupied by the Waqf Board without documents.”
The controversy stems from a legal complaint filed by a local resident, whose counsel, Advocate Jagat Pal, told reporters that for 15 years, the Waqf Board failed to present a single valid document confirming land ownership. He added that the structure was also found to be in clear violation of municipal building norms.
In its response during the Saturday hearing, the Waqf Board claimed the mosque existed before 1947, and the current building was a reconstruction of the old structure. However, the Municipal Corporation Court rejected the argument, stating that no construction or renovation should proceed without formal permission and building plans, especially if the new structure deviates from the original.
The court’s decision is seen as a major turning point in the ongoing dispute. The order to demolish the lower two floors follows earlier directives to remove upper portions of the structure. The municipal authorities are now expected to carry out the complete demolition of all five floors in compliance with court orders.
This ruling comes amid broader concerns raised by BJP leaders about the Waqf Board’s control over properties across India, particularly where ownership and documentation are under legal scrutiny.