The Gujarat High Court has given the green light for the partial demolition of the historic Mansa Masjid in Ahmedabad, citing the way for a key road-widening project. The court dismissed a plea from the mosque’s managing trust seeking a four-week stay on the process, siding with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and state authorities who argued that the project serves a broader public interest.
The mosque, located in the densely populated Saraspur area and believed to be around four centuries old, is partially affected by a city development scheme intended to ease congestion near the Kalupur railway station and the Ahmedabad Metro Junction. The mosque trust had challenged a notice issued by the AMC demanding that part of the property be vacated, citing the site’s religious and cultural significance.
However, Justice Mauna M. Bhatt ruled that the AMC was within its rights to act under the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations (GPMC) Act. The court held that the special powers exercised by the Municipal Commissioner superseded protections typically offered under the Waqf Act, rendering the trust’s legal arguments insufficient.
In its petition, the trust registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act argued that the mosque continues to serve as a place of worship and community gathering, and that the demolition order violates constitutional protections of religious freedom. It also accused city authorities of ignoring objections filed earlier this year.
The state government, defending the AMC’s move, emphasized that the project is critical to managing traffic flow in the area and that all procedural requirements were met. Officials further noted that the provisions of the Waqf Act do not apply when the municipal commissioner exercises special authority under the GPMC Act.
The court’s verdict has sparked renewed concern over the treatment of heritage Islamic sites in Gujarat. It comes in the wake of similar incidents, including the demolition of a centuries-old mosque, dargah, and graveyard in Gir Somnath district in 2024—a move that was upheld by the Supreme Court despite public outcry.
With the latest ruling, work on the road project is expected to proceed without further legal obstruction.
