Court Directs Documents Submission In Sambhal Masjid Demolition Case

The Allahabad High Court has directed petitioners of Masjid Sharif Gosulwara Rawan Burjurg and the mosque’s trustee, Mutawalli Minjar, to submit ownership documents related to the mosque and associated properties.

Justice Dinesh Pathak issued the order while hearing the petition against the demolition of structures built on government land and a pond in Sambhal.

Advocates Arvind Kumar Tripathi and Shashank Shri Tripathi represented the petitioners, urging the court for urgent hearings during the Dussehra holiday period.

The petitioners sought a stay on the demolition of the mosque, a community hall, and an associated hospital, claiming that portions of the structures stood on government land.

The petition highlighted concerns over demolition scheduling, noting that the community hall had already been demolished.

Authorities had planned further demolition on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti and the Dussehra holidays. Petitioners raised the risk of large gatherings leading to accidents or unrest during the bulldozer operation.

“Demolishing these structures during a public holiday could have created safety hazards due to crowding,” the petition stated.

Court Hearing & Interim Relief

During the hearing on Friday afternoon, which lasted approximately 75 minutes, the court did not grant any interim relief to the petitioners.

However, the bench instructed them to submit all relevant documents to substantiate ownership claims.

The court scheduled the next hearing for Saturday at 10:00 AM, ensuring that the matter receives prompt attention.

The petition names multiple parties as respondents, including the State Government, District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Sambhal, Additional District Magistrate, Tehsildar, and the Gram Sabha of Gosulwara Rawan Burjurg.

The case highlights the sensitivity of land and property disputes involving religious structures and the role of judicial oversight in balancing legal and public safety concerns.

The petitioners must now furnish all necessary ownership documents so that the court can examine the plea’s merits and decide whether to grant any interim protection against demolition.

The continued hearing will decide the fate of the mosque and associated structures while ensuring adherence to legal procedures and public safety norms.

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