New Delhi : The Allahabad High Court has put a stay on the demolition order issued by the District Magistrate for the Medina Masjid located in Fatehpur. The petitioner claims the mosque has existed since 1976 and argues that the demolition order is unjust. The court has asked the state government to submit a response within three weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for May 23.
On Friday, the High Court heard the plea challenging the DM’s demolition order dated August 22, 2024. A single bench led by Justice Manish Kumar Nigam passed the stay order and asked the petitioner to file a reply within two weeks. Senior advocate Farman Ahmad Naqvi represented the mosque committee, while Chief Standing Counsel J.N. Maurya presented arguments on behalf of the government.
The petition states that the mosque was constructed on three biswa of land allotted by the Gram Sabha Malwa in 1976. However, the land is now being claimed as a pond. The petitioner argues that while six to seven other encroachments on the same land were ordered to be removed in 2021, no action has been taken against them so far. Meanwhile, the mosque faced sudden proceedings and an order for demolition within just 26 days—without even giving the mosque committee a chance to present its side.
The Tehsildar had earlier issued a notice stating that the land belongs to a pond. In response, the mosque committee had appealed to the DM. However, the DM dismissed the appeal and passed the demolition order, which has now been challenged in the High Court.
