Ujjain mosque demolition paused after overnight Muslim community protest

Demolition of portions of the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain has been temporarily halted after members of the local Muslim community gathered at the mosque and stayed overnight to oppose the planned removal of parts of the structure for a road-widening project.

The Ujjain Municipal Corporation plans to widen the road to 15 metres ahead of the Simhastha 2028 festival, with portions of the mosque falling within the proposed road alignment, says The indian Express.

The proposed demolition includes part of the prayer hall, a 120-foot minaret and Mazhar Chowk Shahi. Imam Mohammad Ibrahim said the mosque is registered as a Waqf property and dates back 636 years, to 1390.

Community members have questioned why the road could not instead be widened by acquiring the structure directly opposite the mosque.

Imam Mohammad Ibrahim and Mohammad Zakir of the Muslim Representative Committee said religious sites should be excluded from the road-widening plan. The Imam said the community had previously surrendered commercial shops for development according to Sharia, but could not relinquish the mosque itself.

Several companies of local police were deployed at the site to maintain peace and persuade members of the mosque committee to cooperate.

Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said the administration had temporarily held back from carrying out the demolition. Police were explaining the legalities and seeking to resolve the matter through dialogue, including efforts to persuade the committee to remove the structures voluntarily.

High Court proceedings

On 9 September, Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed two petitions challenging the Ujjain Municipal Corporation's demolition notice.

The court found that the municipal corporation had followed statutory procedures and provided affected parties an opportunity to object.

It also rejected allegations that the action was arbitrary, noting that portions of 10 temples and one mosque had already been removed on the same road, while action had been taken against around 80 religious sites across Ujjain.

The court said the road widening was in the public interest. The mosque is situated opposite the Mahakaleshwar Temple and near the Kshipra river, and the project forms part of the Ujjain Development Plan 2035.

The plan is intended to manage traffic and public safety during Shahi Sawari, Peshwai and Simhastha 2028, when millions of devotees are expected to visit the city.

Mosque authorities have filed a petition before a High Court double bench, with a hearing scheduled for Monday, 28 September. Community members said they would consider approaching the Supreme Court if they do not receive relief.

Political reaction

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi voiced support for the demonstration and described it as a peaceful, "Gandhian" protest.

Owaisi also linked the dispute to concerns he had raised in Parliament over the proposed Waqf Amendment law. He claimed the law would give government officials powers aimed at taking over Muslim religious properties such as mosques, dargahs and graveyards.