Himachal Pradesh High Court Halts Demolition of Lower Floors of Sanjauli Mosque

Temporary Relief Granted in Sanjauli Mosque Case

SHIMLA: In a significant development regarding the Sanjauli mosque demolition case, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has provided temporary relief to the Muslim community by ordering that the lower two floors of the mosque remain intact. This decision was made on December 3, 2025, while the court upheld the directive for the removal of the top three floors of the five-storey structure.

The ongoing controversy surrounding the Sanjauli mosque took a new turn as Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, after reviewing arguments from all parties involved, confirmed that the upper three levels of the building were unauthorized and must be demolished.

The Waqf Board informed the court that two of the upper floors have already been taken down and assured that the last one would follow suit shortly. However, the court has mandated that the bottom two floors remain untouched for the time being.

Court Questions Legality of the Structure

During the proceedings, the High Court raised critical questions regarding the legality of the mosque's construction and requested clarification from the municipal corporation. The Shimla Municipal Corporation confirmed that the building was constructed without the necessary permissions, rendering it illegal.

After considering the arguments presented, the single-judge bench has scheduled the next hearing for March 9, 2026, and has issued a notice to the Shimla Municipal Corporation, making it a respondent in this case.

Background of the Controversial Structure

The dispute originates from a five-storey building in Sanjauli, which has been labeled as a mosque and was allegedly constructed without municipal approval. Initially, the matter was brought before the Municipal Corporation commissioner’s court, which deemed the top three floors illegal and ordered their demolition. Subsequently, the district court ruled that the entire structure was unauthorized and mandated its complete demolition.

In response to this ruling, the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board appealed to the High Court. The case was initially heard by a division bench, but after the Board sought to withdraw its petition and submitted a new one, it was reassigned to Justice Ajay Mohan Goel’s single bench for further consideration.