New Delhi : The Supreme Court ordered for demolition of the mosque situated inside of Allahabad High Court Premises. The verdict came from Justices MR Shaw and CT Ravi Kumar.
The mosque administration must themselves take down the mosque within three months, barring which the State government and High Court will initiate relevant action, the ruling read.
The Allahabad High Court had, in 2017, ruled for removal of mosque from its premises. The apex court verdict was pronounced on petitions the Waqf Masjid and UP Sunni Central Waqf Board had filed challenging that order.
The Court noted that the mosque was constructed on a government lease land whose grant was cancelled in 2002. In 2004, the land was resumed in favour of Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court observed that the petitioners did not have any legal right over the premises.
Senior advocated Kapil Sibal appeared for the mosque committee. Senor advocated Indira Jaising appeared for UP Sunni Waqf Board. Senior advocated Rakesh Dwived represented the High Court and called the case a fraud, arguing that twice there were renewal applications for lease extension and that the applications were sought for residential purposes.
The Supreme Court told Waqf Board it may approach the UP govt for an alternate site.
