Sanjauli Mosque case: Notice to MC, order to maintain status quo on ground and first floors

December 3, 2025

A petition filed by the Waqf Board in the High Court against the decision to demolish the illegal structure of the much-discussed Sanjauli Mosque in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, was heard on Wednesday.

Judge Ajay Mohan presided over the hearing. The court issued a notice to the Municipal Corporation in the matter and ordered a status quo. The court upheld the order to maintain the status quo on the ground and first floors, while upholding the demolition of the upper floors. The next hearing in the case will now be held in March.

This is the whole matter

The Waqf Board has challenged the decision of the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner and the District Court. A related petition had previously been filed, but was withdrawn on Friday due to its non-compliance with the provisions of the law.

Therefore, the Waqf Board filed a fresh petition. On October 30, the District Court upheld the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s order dated May 3, 2025, in which the Commissioner declared the entire mosque illegal and ordered the demolition of the entire structure.

However, the Waqf Board and the Mosque Committee challenged these orders in the District Court. During the hearing, the district court upheld the orders of the Municipal Commissioner and directed demolition of the illegal structure by December 30.