Jaipur: The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Rajasthan Chapter, has released a fact-finding report raising concerns over administrative action against mosques, madrasas, eidgahs, dargahs, graveyards and other Muslim religious sites in Rajasthan’s border districts. Titled “Notices, Faith and Justice,” the report examines proceedings in Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner, based on field visits, interactions with local residents, mosque committees, lawyers and public representatives, as well as a review of official records.
According to the report, the administrative actions were not limited to a few isolated structures but reflected a broader pattern of proceedings involving Muslim religious institutions across the state’s border districts. APCR said notices were issued under various laws, including the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956, the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, the Rajasthan Colonisation Act, 1954, and the Rajasthan Land Revenue (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1975. Several notices also warned of civil imprisonment of up to three months and penalties amounting to 50 times the annual land revenue.
The organisation expressed concern over what it described as procedural irregularities and possible violations of the principles of natural justice. The report states that in several cases there was a considerable gap between the date printed on notices and the date they were actually served, leaving affected parties with only one to three days to respond or seek legal assistance before coercive action was initiated.
Based on information gathered during the inquiry, APCR said six mosques in Barmer, two mosques and several mazars in Jaisalmer, and one mosque along with two mazars in Bikaner have already been demolished. It added that demolition or eviction proceedings remain pending in several other cases, while many disputes are currently being heard by courts.
The report notes that the legal status of the land involved differs from case to case, including grazing land, oran land, khatedari land, allotted land and abadi land. It argues that inconsistencies between historical colonisation records, revenue records and current land records require each case to be examined independently rather than through a uniform administrative approach.
APCR further stated that similar proceedings are underway or proposed in other districts along Rajasthan’s international border, making the issue one of wider constitutional significance. While acknowledging the importance of national security and border management, the organisation said such measures must remain consistent with constitutional guarantees, the rule of law and principles of natural justice. It maintained that national security and constitutional rights should be viewed as complementary rather than conflicting objectives.
The report identifies several legal questions requiring judicial and administrative scrutiny, including whether affected parties were provided a meaningful opportunity to present their case, whether authorities followed procedures prescribed by law and Supreme Court guidelines, whether each matter was assessed on its individual merits and revenue records, and whether administrative action was applied uniformly across comparable cases.
Based on its findings, APCR has urged the Rajasthan government and concerned authorities to refrain from taking irreversible action in matters pending before courts, ensure adequate notice and effective hearings in every case, strictly comply with Supreme Court guidelines and principles of natural justice, independently verify land and waqf records before taking decisions, and prioritise dialogue, transparency and constitutional values in resolving disputes involving places of worship.
Releasing the report, APCR said the fact-finding exercise was conducted neither in favour of nor against any particular community, but in support of constitutional governance, the rule of law and fair administrative procedures. The organisation reiterated that national security, protection of civil rights and communal harmony can coexist when administrative actions are carried out in accordance with constitutional principles and established legal safeguards.
