uttarakhand-hc-urges-peace-amid-mosque-dispute-in-uttarkashi

The Uttarakhand High Court has instructed the Uttarkashi district administration to maintain law and order in the town after a dispute over a local mosque came to light. The court also directed authorities to keep it updated on the situation.

 

On Wednesday, a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Vivek Bharti was hearing a petition requesting the court to ensure the safety of the mosque on Bhatwari Road in Uttarkashi. The mosque, which was built decades ago, belongs to the Sunni community.

 

The petitioner informed the court that a mahapanchayat (village council meeting) protesting the mosque had been planned for December 1, and they asked the court to intervene and prevent it.

 

Representing the state government, Deputy Advocate General JS Virk told the court that the administration had not granted permission for the mahapanchayat. He added that day and night patrolling was being carried out to ensure peace, and the situation in the town was under control.

 

The petition was filed by an organisation called Alpasankhyak Seva Samiti of Uttarkashi. It claimed that since September 24, some groups had been threatening to demolish the mosque, calling it illegal. This had created rising communal tensions, the petition said, and they sought protection for the mosque.

 

The petition also argued that the mosque was built on land purchased in 1969, and the Waqf commissioner had inspected it in 1986, declaring it legal.

 

The petitioner's lawyer, Kartikeya Hari Gupta, argued that some organizations were making provocative statements calling for the mosque’s demolition.

 

He claimed these statements violated a Supreme Court order that mandates states to file cases against anyone making inflammatory comments about any community or religion. Gupta pointed out that the state had not filed any case against those violating this order.

 

The next hearing of the case is scheduled for December 5.

 

The Sanyukt Hindu Sangathan, a group involved in the protest, reportedly engaged in stone-pelting during an October rally demanding the mosque’s demolition. This led to clashes with the police, who used mild force to disperse the crowd. The violence left 27 people injured, including seven police officers.

 

The group claims the mosque was built illegally on government land.