Allahabad High Court refuse interim protection to Sambhal’s Rayan Buzurg Mosque from demolition

The Allahabad High Court on Saturday (October 5, 2025) refused to grant interim protection to Sambhal based Rayan Buzurg Mosque which has been served with a demolition notice by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Bench of Justice Dinesh Pathak, during a special hearing on October 04, dismissed as withdrawn the plea filed by the management of the Rayan Buzurg mosque.

The petitioners have challenged the order issued by Tehsildar, Sambhal, on September 2, for demolition proceedings on the structure under Section 67 of the U.P. Revenue Code, 2006.

The mosque management, in its plea, had claimed that the notices issued were in ‘gross violation’ of the Supreme Court’s directions issued last year which mandated adherence to due process before demolition of religious structures.

The authorities of Sambhal district administration claimed that the mosque was built on a pond. The authorities also claimed that the pond area was also encroached by building a Madrasa and even a marriage hall.

While dismissing the plea, the court noted that after due deliberations at length, the counsel for the petitioners prays for to dismiss the instant writ petition as withdrawn to resort to alternative remedy available to them to file an appeal before the court competent i.e. Collector concerned. The Additional Advocate General and the Chief Standing Counsel appearing for the State raised no objection to the same.

Before parting, the counsel for the petitioners prayed for interim protection to restrain coercive action against the mosque in the meantime. Rejecting the prayer, the court observed thus:

“In my opinion, it is open for the petitioners to move an appropriate application before the appellate court for the interim protection. Application moved on behalf of the petitioners, if any, shall be considered and decided by the appellate court, in accordance with law, on its own merits without being influenced with the order of the date passed by this court,” court said.