Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has allowed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to proceed with the partial demolition of the 400-year-old Mansa Masjid in Saraspur for a road-widening project. The decision followed a petition by the mosque trust, which was dismissed on the grounds of “public interest.”
Justice Mauna M Bhatt ruled that the Waqf Act does not apply in this case, as the Municipal Commissioner acted under the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, which grants specific powers. The court also rejected the trust’s request for a four-week stay, calling the plea legally unsustainable.
The Mansa Masjid Trust argued that the mosque, believed to be about four centuries old, is central to the religious life of the local Muslim community. It said that the demolition disregards constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, cultural preservation, and the objections submitted earlier this year. The trust is registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, and oversees prayers and religious activities at the site.
State authorities defended the project, stating that the road expansion is necessary to reduce traffic congestion and improve connectivity between Kalupur railway station and Ahmedabad Metro Junction. Officials insisted that all legal procedures were followed.
The ruling has renewed debate over the treatment of minority heritage sites in Gujarat. In September 2024, the demolition of a centuries-old mosque, dargah, and graveyard in Gir Somnath district led to widespread protests, though the Supreme Court upheld the state government’s stance.
The current order has raised fresh concerns among community members about the future of historic mosques across the state.
