By Team Clarion

SAMBHAL — Residents of Hatim Sarai locality in the volatile Uttar Pradesh city of Sambhal have received a significant reprieve from Allahabad High Court, as it temporarily halted demolition action against a mosque and 80 homes including that of local MP Zia-ur Rehman Barq.

The Sambhal administration had previously issued notices, ordering families to vacate their homes within 15 days. The administration claimed that the identified 80 houses were built on eight bighas of government pond land. Homeowners were directed to submit documents proving ownership, with the threat of bulldozers if they failed to comply.

In response, affected residents filed petitions in the high court, seeking protection against the demolition orders. The court has now instructed residents to submit relevant land documents to the Tehsil administration within four weeks, effectively suspending any demolition in the meantime.

Speaking to the media, a resident expressed relief, saying, “Our prayers have finally been answered. Since the administration issued the demolition notices, we have been living in fear. Now we can sleep peacefully.”

Another resident added, “We built our homes on our private agricultural land, not on government property. This order from the high court gives us hope that justice will be done.”

MP Barq also commented, rejecting the administration’s claims: “The allegations are completely false. All these houses were constructed on private land. The administration’s claim about the pond land is incorrect.”

The high court’s intervention has brought a wave of relief to Hatim Sarai, highlighting the importance of judicial protection for minority communities facing administrative overreach. Locals now have four weeks to submit their land documents, ensuring their homes remain safe while the matter is reviewed.

A local community elder stated, “We thank the court for recognising our rights. The authorities must respect the legal process and the people’s homes. Our community’s faith and trust in justice are renewed today.”

This development underlines the challenges faced by minority communities in Sambhal, where residents have often been vulnerable to sudden administrative actions. Legal safeguards, as demonstrated by the high court, play a crucial role in protecting citizens and their properties.

This story was originally published in clarionindia.net.