SHIMLA: In a significant development today, Shimla Municipal Commissioner Bhupinder Atri delivered a long-awaited verdict on the controversial Sanjauli Mosque case.

 The court ordered the demolition of the top three floors of the mosque, declaring them illegal.

This decision comes amid ongoing tensions in Shimla, where local residents and  VHP-led Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti  have been protesting the mosque's construction, alleging violations of municipal building codes.

The Sanjauli Muslim Welfare committee had in writing submitted to the MC Court that if given permission they would remove the illegal floors themselves. 

The Shimla MC court has provided the mosque committee with a two-month deadline to carry out the demolition at their own expense.

The case, which initially sparked a heated debate in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, has seen multiple clashes between groups over the mosque’s expansion, and today's verdict is seen as a resolution to this aspect of the dispute.

The next court hearing is set for December 21, where further decisions regarding the remaining structure are expected.