Prayagraj: A lawyer has moved the Allahabad high court challenging the demolition of a mosque inside the collectorate premises and seeking quashing of the eviction orders that led to the action.Advocate Mohammad Tanveer Ahmad filed the petition under Article 227 of the Constitution, challenging the July 16, 2026 order of the Saharanpur city magistrate directing eviction and imposing a penalty of Rs 6.41 crore for alleged unauthorized occupation of public land, as well as the Sept 2, 2026 order of the district judge dismissing the appeal against it.The State of Uttar Pradesh through the collector, Saharanpur, and Abdul Hamid, manager/maulvi of the mosque, have been made respondents in the case. The matter is likely to be heard soon.The petition contends that both orders were passed without jurisdiction and are contrary to law.According to court records, proceedings were initiated under the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. Acting on an application under the Act, the city magistrate ordered eviction from the site and imposed a penalty of Rs 6.41 crore on July 16. The district judge subsequently upheld the order on Sept 2.After the appeal was dismissed, authorities demolished the mosque, which covered about 315 sq metres within the collectorate premises, in an early-morning operation on Sept 5.
