PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
A disputed mosque structure in the Anda Khet area of Mussoorie was demolished by the Mussoorie municipality on Saturday after the completion of legal and administrative proceedings. Heavy police deployment was made during the operation which saw protest by some members of the community against the government action.
The mosque, located on the Mussoorie-Dhanaulti Road had been at the centre of a long-running dispute over the legality of its construction and the ownership of the land. According to the administration, the mosque was built without the necessary construction approvals. No valid ownership documents were produced despite repeated opportunities.
Mussoorie sub-divisional magistrate Rahul Anand said that the administration launched an inquiry after receiving credible information about the structure. About two months ago, a public notice was issued asking anyone with ownership papers, construction permissions or land-related documents to submit them for verification.
He said that the administration repeatedly contacted the parties concerned but no valid records were submitted within the stipulated period. Verification was also carried out with the Waqf Board, cantonment board, municipality, Forest department and Revenue department.
According to Anand, the inquiry found that the land was government property and that no permission had ever been granted for construction of the mosque. He said that three legal notices were served before the demolition was carried out.
The SDM further said that although some documents were later submitted claiming the land belonged to the Waqf Board, the administration sought official verification from the Waqf Board. After conducting a survey, the board submitted a written report confirming that the land was not Waqf property. He said that the demolition was conducted only after completing all legal formalities and giving the concerned parties more than two months and multiple notices to produce the necessary documents. Since the land falls under the jurisdiction of the Mussoorie municipality, the demolition was carried out by the municipal authorities.
Dehradun senior superintendent of police Pramendra Dobal said that teams from different police stations have been deployed in the area to monitor the situation. At present, there is no law and order problem in the area. He added that the legal and administrative proceedings related to the land are ongoing.
