Allahabad High Court Denies Stay on Sambhal Mosque Demolition Built on Government Land

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed an urgent petition seeking a stay on the demolition of a mosque, marriage hall, and hospital in Sambhal that were allegedly constructed on government land.

Justice Dinesh Pathak, presiding over the single-judge bench, heard arguments from the representatives of Masjid Sharif Gausul Wara Rawa Buzurg and its Mutawalli, Minjar, before disposing of the petition.

The court directed the mosque committee to file their stay application with the appropriate lower court instead.

The petitioners had challenged an order dated September 2 issued under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006.

According to the petitioners, the marriage hall, which was demolished on October 2 using four bulldozers, had been built on pond land. They expressed concerns about conducting demolitions on Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra, suggesting it could potentially disturb law and order.

The administration had previously issued a notice to the mosque, parts of which allegedly encroach on government property, giving the committee a four-day deadline to respond.

Reports indicate that committee members began voluntarily removing sections of the wall before the deadline expired.

On Dussehra, Sambhal district officials launched a major operation against illegal encroachments, demolishing a marriage hall constructed on government land in Rawa Buzurg village.

The demolition, which took place Thursday morning, was conducted under heavy security, with approximately 200 police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel on site. Authorities also employed drones to monitor the operation in real time.

During the previous hearing on Friday, the High Court had requested the petitioners to provide land records. The petition named several parties including the state government, District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police Sambhal, ADM, Tehsildar, and Gram Sabha.

Advocates Arvind Kumar Tripathi and Shashank Shri Tripathi represented the mosque committee, while Chief Standing Counsel JN Maurya and Standing Counsel Ashish Mohan Srivastava appeared for the government during Saturday's hearing.