Allahabad High Court halts UP govt move to demolish mosque in Fatehpur

The Allahabad High Court has restrained Uttar Pradesh government from demolishing a mosque in Fatehpur district [Managing Committee, Noori Jama Masjid v State of UP and Others].

The Division Bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Arun Kumar passed the order on a petition moved by the managing committee of Noori Jama Masjid.

The petitioner stated that it received a demolition notice and also told the Court that a part of the mosque has already been demolished.

The Court recorded an undertaking of the State counsel that no further demolition would be carried out till the next date of hearing in the matter.

However, the Court also issued the following direction to the State.

“Till the next date of listing, no further action of the demolition shall take place in the Mosque."

Earlier, the State counsel submitted that the demolition was necessitated on account of the public work of widening the road. The Court was told that the widening of the road process has already been completed. 

However, the counsel for the mosque management submitted that the work is still pending and that the mosque would be demolished, if not protected, till the next date of hearing.

The Court then posted the matter for hearing on November 17 in the urgent list, considering the need for widening the road.

“However, looking into urgency and need of widening the road, list this case on top of the Item on 17.11.2025 as fresh in order to facilitate the learned counsel for the State to seek instructions,” it ordered.

According to media reports, a portion of the 180-year-old Noori Jama Masjid in Fatehpur district was bulldozed in December 2024 as well, over an alleged encroachment. 

The mosque management had approached the High Court even then but failed to get any timely relief. That plea was eventually withdrawn due to subsequent developments, with liberty to file afresh.

Advocates Azim Ahmad Kazmi, Mohd Saleem Khan and Syed Azeem Uddin represented the mosque's management committee (petitioner).

[Read Order]