By Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A 40-year-old mosque in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, is facing possible administrative action after the Moradabad Development Authority (MDA) issued a notice alleging that the structure was built without an approved building plan. The move against Mustafa Masjid has triggered concern among worshippers and members of the local Muslim community.
The mosque, located along National Highway 9 between Delhi and Lucknow, was served the notice on August 20. The deadline for responding expired on September 3.
The case has also acquired a wider political dimension, with former Moradabad MP S T Hasan linking the development to the approaching Uttar Pradesh elections and alleging that Hindu-Muslim polarisation was being used as a political issue.
However, the MDA has said the mosque is not built on government land and that its objection relates specifically to the absence of an approved map.
According to the MDA, the mosque covers approximately 300 square metres and was constructed without having its building plan approved by the authorities. On that basis, it was described as an unauthorised construction in the notice issued to its management.
The mosque was built by Farid Jabbar at his factory approximately 40 years ago.
An issue raised in the dispute is the timing of the mosque’s construction in relation to the establishment of the MDA. The mosque predates the formation of the development authority, raising a question over whether approval of a building plan from the authority could have been required when the structure was built.
MDA officials have acknowledged this point.
MDA Vice-Chairman Anubhav Singh, while declining to speak on camera, said the authority had received a complaint from four people alleging that the mosque was unauthorised. Following the complaint, the authority’s secretary issued a notice to the mosque management.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
