The Gujarat High Court has permitted the partial demolition of a centuries old mosque in Ahmedabad’s Saraspur for a road widening project quashing a plea filed by the mosque’s committee seeking relief.
The Mansa Masjid, a 400-years-old site, had challenged a notice issued. H the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) demanding the mosque committee to empty the premises.
The petitioner, the mosque’s trust, had argued that the mosque is ancient and sacred, formed as a registered trust that supports and conducts religious and prayer related activities for the community. The trust also highlighted that the demolition is a grave violation of guarantees provided by the Constitution.
Delivering the verdict, Justice Mauna Bhatt allowed the demolition, maintaining that the provisions of the Waqf Act do not apply in this case as the Municipal Corporation acted under the special powers granted by the GPMC Act.
Bhatt ruled that the project is in favour of public interest.
The centre has defended the project stating that it is in the favour of urban development. The officials have also maintained that the Waqf Act is not applicable when special powers are invoked under the GMPC act.
Similar verdicts have been delivered earlier concerning Muslim religious sites. Last year, in September, a mosque, dargah and a graveyard were demolished in Gir Somnath district. The move drew backlash from the public. However, the court did not halt the demolitions.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.
