Prayagraj, Sep 11 The Allahabad High Court on Friday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file a counter affidavit within three weeks on a writ petition against the demolition of a mosque situated in the collectorate premises at Saharanpur.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal fixed October 12 for the next date of hearing, and stayed the realisation of a fine of Rs six crore from the mosque management till the next date.
The order was passed on a petition by advocate Mohammad Tanveer Ahmad challenging an order of the city magistrate, Saharanpur on July 16 as well as the order of district judge, Saharanpur on September 2.
In the writ petition, the State of Uttar Pradesh through the district magistrate, Saharanpur as well as Abdul Hamid, manager/maulavi of mosque have been made respondents.
The city magistrate, through an order passed under the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction and Unauthorised Occupants) Act 1972 on July 16, directed demolition of the 315 square-metre mosque in the Collectorate premises and imposed a fine of Rs 6.41 crore on its management.
An appeal was filed against the magistrate's order in the district court.
However, the district judge dismissed the appeal on September 2, following which the authorities demolished the mosque on September 5.
