Saharanpur mosque demolition reaches Allahabad High Court

A mosque located within the Saharanpur Collectorate premises in Uttar Pradesh was demolished by district authorities in the early hours of September 5. The demolition followed a July 16 order by the City Magistrate and a subsequent September 2 ruling by a district judge, which declared the structure an unauthorized occupation of government land. The magistrate's order also imposed a penalty of Rs 6.41 crore on the mosque's management.

Muslim organizations, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, have condemned the action, alleging violations of constitutional rights regarding religious freedom and due process. They argue that the demolition occurred while legal remedies were still being pursued. A writ petition has been filed in the Allahabad High Court challenging the legality of the demolition orders.

Following the demolition, an ancient well approximately 20 feet deep was discovered beneath the debris. The Archaeological Survey of India has inspected the site and collected samples to examine the historical status of the location.