Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court has recently directed authorities concerned to ensure security around the mosque in Uttarkashi. The court has also directed the officials to act against the hate speech and demolition threats.
A petition, which an organization Alpsankhyak Sewa Samiti has filed in the high court, was heard by a division bench of acting chief justice Manoj Kumar Tewari and Justice Rakesh Thpaliyal recently. The court directed the DM and SP of Uttarkashi district to ensure security of the mosque. In its petition, the Alpsankhyak Sewa Samiti has sought protection of the mosque against demands by right wing groups to demolish it.
Right wing groups continue to protest demanding demolition of the mosque
Right wing groups continue to protest in support of their demand for the demolition of the mosque. The tension has been brewing in Uttarkashi since September this year. According to right wing groups, the mosque was built in 1969 and it was registered as a waqf property in 1987. They claim that the mosque is illegal.
The Alpasankhyak Sewa Samiti claims about legality of the construction
The Alpasankhyak Sewa Samiti claims that the mosque was built on land which was legally purchased. They also claim that it has been serving as a Sunni Muslim place of worship for more than the last 50 years.
The high court directed officials to take action against hate speech
Citing Supreme Court guidelines in the Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay Vs Union of India, the court has given emphasis on the maintenance of law-and-order situation as well as proper security of the mosque. In its ruling, the Supreme Court directed authorities to take suo motu action against hate speech, even without any complaint being filed.
The problem erupted in September this year
Earlier on September 9, an umbrella group of Hindu organization Sanyukta Sanatan Dharma Rakshak Dal Sangh, submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi Meharban Singh Bisht. They demanded the demolition of the mosque. They also claim that it was illegal as it was not registered in the revenue records.
