Waqf Board gives its nod for  Demolition of Three Illegal Floors at Sanjauli Masjid in Shimla. 

SHIMLA: In compliance with a recent Shimla Municipal Court order , the Waqf Board has given its nod to the Sanjauli Masjid committee for demolition of three illegal floors of the Sanjauli Masjid in Shimla.

The mosque committee, under the supervision of Mohammad Latif, began dismantling the unauthorized construction on Monday, a significant step in resolving the long-standing legal battle amicably.

The dispute, dating back to 2010, escalated after a complaint was filed regarding the illegal construction of additional floors on the mosque. Despite multiple notices issued by the Municipal Corporation, the unauthorized work continued, with the mosque eventually becoming a five-storey structure by 2018.

The Municipal Commissioner’s court ruling on October 5, 2024, concluded that the illegal floors must be demolished within two months.

Though the mosque committee initially expressed a willingness to remove two-and-a-half floors, the court firmly ordered the demolition of all three.

Over the years, the Municipal Corporation had issued 38 notices related to the illegal construction, with 27 notices directed at an individual named Akhilesh Salim, who was initially attending the hearings but has been untraceable since 2016.

In the wake of the court’s ruling, the mosque committee sought and received permission from the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police in Shimla to proceed with the demolition.

According to Latif, the process is expected to take two to three months to complete, with all expenses being borne by the committee.

The situation also sparked tensions in the local community, with demonstrations held by locals, including a Congress councilor, who called for the illegal floors to be demolished.

The demolition marks the final phase of a 14-year legal and civic battle, with the Waqf Board now acting on the court’s mandate to restore the mosque’s compliance with legal building regulations.