The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the district authorities in Uttarkashi to ensure the maintenance of law and order following disputes surrounding a local mosque on Bhatwari Road. The directive came from a division bench including Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Vivek Bharti during a hearing on November 27, which addressed concerns regarding the safety of the Sunni community mosque.
The petition, presented by the Alpasankhyak Seva Samiti of Uttarkashi, claims that the mosque, established on land purchased in 1969 and verified as legal by the Waqf commissioner in 1986, has been under threat since September 24. According to the petition, some organizations have called for its demolition, claiming it was illegally built on government land.
The recent tensions escalated when a group known as the Sanyukt Hindu Sangathan allegedly engaged in stone-pelting during a protest rally in October. The incident required police intervention, resulting in mild lathi-charge to control the situation and leading to injuries among 27 people, including seven police officers.
During the hearing, Deputy Advocate General J S Virk representing the state government, confirmed that no permission had been granted for a mahapanchayat proposed on December 1 by those opposing the mosque. Virk assured the court that regular patrolling is ongoing, and the situation in the town is currently under control.
The petitioner’s advocate, Kartikeya Hari Gupta, raised concerns about provocative statements being made by those demanding the mosque’s demolition, which he claimed violated a Supreme Court order mandating immediate legal action against any inflammatory statements targeting any caste, religion, or community. Gupta argued that the state’s failure to file cases against such actions was in defiance of the Supreme Court’s instructions.
