Saharanpur mosque demolition: Indian Muslim bodies vow legal action
AIMPLB, Jamiat question administration’s haste and denial of due process
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind have strongly condemned the demolition of a more than century-old mosque on the premises of the Saharanpur Collectorate, calling the action a serious violation of constitutional principles, religious freedom and due process. Both organizations pledged to pursue all legal avenues to challenge the move.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the mosque was demolished by the district administration in the early hours of September 5, just three days after the District Court dismissed an appeal by the mosque management against a July 16 order of the City Magistrate declaring the structure an unauthorised occupation of government land.
AIMPLB spokesperson Dr. S. Q. R. Ilyas said the district administration had assured local residents on September 4 that the mosque would only be sealed. “Yet, the very next morning, at around 4 a.m., the mosque was demolished,” he said.
Dr. Ilyas termed the demolition as a grave violation of the rule of law, religious freedom, and the fundamental principles of justice. “An eviction order cannot by itself justify the immediate demolition of a religious structure,” he asserted. “If the mosque management still had the legal right to approach a higher court, demolishing the mosque without allowing it an effective opportunity to pursue legal remedies was contrary to the principles of justice and natural justice.”
He emphasised that even if the government claimed ownership of the land, it remained bound by the rule of law, fair hearing and due process.
Dr. Ilyas called for an impartial legal inquiry, full disclosure of the legal basis for the demolition, a comprehensive examination of the mosque’s historical status and Waqf documents. He also demanded that the mosque management be given an effective opportunity to approach higher courts, and that appropriate action be taken against officials found responsible for violating the law. “Disputes concerning places of worship must be resolved through law, courts and the Constitution—not bulldozers,” he said. “The rule of law requires the State to apply the same legal standards to every citizen and every place of worship.”
Meanwhile, a high-level central delegation of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, led by its General Secretary Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi, visited Saharanpur to assess the legal and social situation following the demolition.
Speaking to the media, Maulana Qasmi expressed deep anguish over the demolition, particularly “the unusual haste shown by the administration”. “An affected party cannot be denied an opportunity to defend its rights and approach the courts before such drastic action is taken,” he said.
He added that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had historically pursued questions of justice within the framework of the Constitution and the law and would continue to do so in the Saharanpur matter. “We will knock on every available legal door,” he affirmed.
