The Allahabad High Court refused to stop demolishing the mosque and marriage hall on the land of the government pond in Sambhal. After hearing for the second consecutive day, the court said, the petitioners are independent of the alternative legal route. The Muslim side has suffered a setback.
Between faith and administrative strictness in the scales of law, it is now becoming challenging in the Sambhal Masjid case. The Allahabad High Court has refused to stop the administrative action to demolish the mosque and marriage hall built on the land of the government pond. The single bench of Justice Dinesh Pathak gave this major decision on Saturday, causing a major setback to the Muslim side.
Hearing held for the second consecutive day
On Friday, the Masjid Committee filed a petition in the High Court on the demand for quick hearing in the case. In the next morning, the court dismissed the petition. The court said that alternative legal route to file an appeal against the eviction order issued by the Tehsildar is available with the petitioners.
The court also clarified that if the Muslim side goes to the Appellate Authority, then the decision on its appeal should be taken with full impartiality and without being affected by this order.
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What is the whole matter
The dispute over the construction of the mosque and its associated marriage hall located in Sambhal district deepened when the administration claimed that these constructions were done on the land of the government pond. On this basis, the Tehsildar issued a demolition order. The Muslim side had filed a petition against this demanding relief from the court.
The petitioners included Masajid Sharif Gosulbara Rava Bujurg and Mutavalli Minjar. He claimed through his lawyers Arvind Kumar Tripathi and Shashank Tripathi that Barat Ghar has already been broken, but the administration is also preparing to demolish the mosque between Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra.
Administration claim and mosque side argument
The administration says that some part of the mosque falls into government land and many times the illegal part was not removed despite warning and deferment. The administration had also given four days time to the mosque committee, but the construction remained the same.
On the other hand, the Masjid Committee said that the action is going to hurt religious sentiments and the administration did not give an opportunity for adequate hearing.
Court stance strict, but open legal way
The High Court clearly stated that when there is an alternative route of appeal in the law, the court cannot be given relief directly. Hence the petition was withdrawn. This order has not stopped demolition at present, but the mosque committee will now be able to file its appeal with the appellate officer. While the Muslim side is disappointed with this decision of the court, the administration is now preparing for further action.
Local security increased security
The Sambhal administration has deployed additional police forces in and around the mosque complex to prevent any possible tension. Officials said that peace and maintaining law and order on the whole matter is the top priority.
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