Shimla: In a recent escalation in Shimla, the All Himachal Muslim’s Organisation (AHMO) has declared its intention to contest a court decision mandated by the Bharatiya Janata Party government for the demolition of three stories of the Sanjauli mosque in Himachal Pradesh. The mosque, an established religious site over a century old, faces partial demolition following a controversial court ruling.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the dispute centers on the ownership of the land, with the AHMO affirming that the property rightfully belongs to the Waqf Board. The local court’s order, issued on October 5, directed the removal of the upper three levels of the five-story mosque within two months, a directive that the AHMO plans to challenge in the Supreme Court due to its significant cultural and historical importance.

The AHMO has emphasized that the targeted sections of the mosque are legally held and were wrongly designated as unauthorized by the municipal authorities. Nazakat Ali Hashmi, a spokesperson for the state AHMO, criticized the municipal commissioner’s court’s decision, which was based on what he claims were unauthorized commitments by individuals unaffiliated with the mosque’s management.

Further highlighting the legal complexities, Hashmi noted that despite the mosque’s architectural plans awaiting approval, the decision to demolish was prematurely enforced. The AHMO’s resistance aligns with broader concerns about policies targeting Muslim landmarks in the state, viewed by many as part of a larger pattern of religious and cultural infringement.