The Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board submitted an 18-year-old document in the district court on Friday, identifying Latif Mohammad as the nominated president of the committee for the disputed Sanjauli mosque. This move comes in response to a court directive requiring the Board to explain in what capacity Latif Mohammad had offered to demolish three unauthorised floors of the mosque.
The court had earlier instructed the Waqf Board to file an affidavit outlining Latif Mohammad’s role in the demolition offer, after tensions arose surrounding the legality of the mosque’s structure.
In its reply, the Waqf Board presented a 2006 document, which showed Latif Mohammad as the president of the mosque committee, as confirmed by Vishva Bhushan, counsel for the All Himachal Muslim Organisation (AHMO). Under the Waqf Act, committee members are typically appointed for a five-year term.
Latif Mohammad, addressing reporters, said, “The Waqf Board’s reply confirms that I have been the president of the Sanjauli Mosque committee since 2006. The Municipal Commissioner’s Court also notified me in this capacity in September.”
The dispute involves calls from some local residents for the demolition of the Sanjauli mosque, especially after a protest on September 11 resulted in ten injuries. The protest was sparked by allegations of illegal construction on the mosque’s premises.
In the aftermath, Latif Mohammad and others offered to demolish the mosque’s three unauthorised floors and sought permission from the Municipal Commissioner. On October 5, the Municipal Commissioner’s Court gave approval for the demolition, setting a two-month deadline for the completion of the work. However, the AHMO filed an appeal against this order in the district court.
The next hearing in this ongoing matter is scheduled for November 30. The court will consider the arguments and documents presented by the Waqf Board, including the role of Latif Mohammad in the mosque’s administration and the proposed demolition.
