BLURB
Allahabad HC stays Rs 6.41 crore fine on Saharanpur Mosque management, seeks UP government response and fixes October 12 hearing.
LUCKNOW
The Allahabad High Court on Friday stayed the Rs 6.41 crore fine imposed on the management of an old mosque in Saharanpur that was demolished on September 5. The court sought the Uttar Pradesh government’s response and fixed October 12 for further hearing.
A single bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal passed the interim order on a petition filed by the mosque management challenging the demolition and the penalty imposed by the City Magistrate.
The mosque, located inside the Collectorate premises, was demolished around dawn amid tight security after a court order. The demolition triggered a political backlash, with opposition leaders calling it a violation of religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.
The dispute began after a Bajrang Dal leader filed an application before the City Magistrate in March, claiming that the mosque was illegal and had been constructed on government land. The City Magistrate accepted the claim, declared the mosque illegal and imposed the Rs 6.41 crore fine on its caretakers.
The mosque management challenged the order before the District Judge, but the petition was rejected on September 2. The management then approached the Allahabad High Court. With the interim stay on the fine, the matter will now return to the High Court for further consideration on October 12, when the state government’s response is expected to be examined.