Allahabad HC refuses to stay Sambhal mosque demolition

In a jolt to the petitioners, the Allahabad High Court on Saturday dismissed an urgent petition filed by the Sambhal mosque committee seeking a stay on the demolition of a mosque, marriage hall, and hospital allegedly built on government land.

The single-judge Bench of Justice Dinesh Pathak heard the plea moved by Masjid Sharif Gausul Wara Rawa Buzurg and its Mutawalli, Minjar.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court disposed of the



petition and directed the mosque committee to approach the competent lower court with a stay application.

The petitioners had challenged a September 2 order passed under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006.

They argued that the marriage hall, already demolished on October 2 with four bulldozers, was built on pond land, but claimed that carrying out demolition on Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra posed risks of law-and-order disturbance.