Supreme Court Seals Fate: Parts of 400-Year-Old Ahmedabad Mosque Face Demolition for Public Works
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- October 18, 2025
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In a decision that reverberates through the historical lanes of Ahmedabad, the Supreme Court has upheld the demolition of certain structures belonging to the revered 400-year-old Jama Masjid at Gujri Bazaar. This contentious ruling allows authorities to proceed with the removal of the mosque's ablution tank (wuzukhana) and a toilet block, structures deemed to be encroachments on public land, paving the way for a crucial road widening project linked to the city's Metro rail development.
The protracted legal battle reached its apex with a bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, who dismissed an appeal filed by the mosque's trust.
The trust had fervently argued against the demolition, emphasizing the structures' integral role in the mosque's religious practices and their historical presence for centuries. Despite these pleas, the apex court sided with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which maintained that these constructions were unauthorized extensions onto a public thoroughfare and were obstructing essential urban infrastructure development.
The core of the dispute lay in the classification of the land.
While the main mosque structure enjoys protection as an Ancient Monument of National Importance under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the contested ablution tank and toilet block were identified by the AMC as having encroached upon a municipal road. This distinction proved pivotal in the court's judgment.
The saga began when the Gujarat High Court initially directed the AMC to take appropriate action, noting the structures' placement on public land.
The High Court had rejected the mosque's argument of adverse possession, stating that encroaching on public land, regardless of duration, does not confer ownership rights. The Supreme Court's verdict reaffirms this stance, drawing a clear line between the protected heritage site and the alleged encroachments.
This decision underscores a recurring tension in rapidly developing Indian cities: the delicate balance between preserving historical and religious heritage and the pressing demands of modern urban infrastructure.
While the court's judgment is based on legal interpretations of land ownership and public utility, it undoubtedly stirs deep emotions among local communities and heritage enthusiasts who view such demolitions, even partial, as an affront to history and religious sentiment. The fate of these parts of the ancient mosque now rests on the implementation of this definitive Supreme Court order.
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