Calcutta High Court refuses to stay foundation stone ceremony for Babri Masjid-inspired mosque

The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to stop the foundation-stone laying ceremony for a mosque in Murshidabad, West Bengal, which is allegedly going to be modelled after the Babri Masjid that was demolished during the 1992 communal riots in Ayodhya [Dr. Abdus Salam Shaikh v. The Union of India & Ors].

The stone-laying ceremony, scheduled for December 6, had been announced by suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, who had proposed building such a mosque in Beldanga.

The Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) had reportedly suspended Kabir from the party on December 4 over his remarks about building this 'Babri-style' mosque and distanced itself from the foundation stone event.

A petition was then filed before the High Court by one, Dr. Abdus Salam Shaikh, to stop the event on concerns that it could disturb communal harmony.

However, a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen yesterday declined to halt the event and closed the petition.

The Court noted that the core grievance placed before it by the petitioner related to law-and-order management in the district and the need to ensure protection of life and property.

During the hearing, the Advocate General Kishore Datta assured the Bench that the administration was alert to the situation and that law and order would be maintained strictly.

Recording this submission, the Court disposed of the plea.

"The State must act as per its stand and the law and order situation shall be maintained in Murshidabad strictly and the lives and properties of the citizens will be protected," the order said.

The petitioner had earlier written to the Superintendent of Police on November 30, warning that the upcoming ceremony could lead to unrest. The petitioner's counsel argued that preventive steps were needed to avoid any disturbance.

The Central government's counsel informed the Court that 19 companies of the central armed forces were already stationed in Murshidabad following earlier directions of the High Court.

In view of these assurances, the Bench declined to intervene further and disposed of the petition.

[Read Order]