Bhopal, September 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday disposed of two appeals concerning Ujjain’s Shahi Masjid after the mosque committee and the district administration reached an agreement over the portion of the structure affected by a road-widening project.
The order came amid reports of stone-pelting and clashes with police during the demolition exercise.
Advocate Kuldeep Pathak, appearing for the Shahi Masjid Committee, said the appeals were filed after a single bench of the High Court had earlier dismissed the committee’s petition.
He said the administration had initially sought a 9.5-foot setback from the mosque, but both sides later agreed to limit the affected portion to three feet.
Under the settlement, shops falling within the road-widening area would be removed and alternative shops provided, while the large minaret would be relocated.
Pathak said the administration and the committee would strictly adhere to the compromise and implement the terms outlined in the affidavit.
Tension broke out at the mosque premises on Monday morning as demolition work began. Ujjain Police said stones were pelted at personnel deployed at the site, prompting them to use tear gas and resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. A woman station house officer was injured during the action.
Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said members of the Muslim community and the mosque committee had participated in removing the portion identified for the road project.
He said the situation was normal at the time, adding that demolition work continued from 8:45 a.m. until around 4 p.m. The exercise was halted during prayer time, after which the situation eased.
Police said they had detained more than 15 people and registered seven FIRs. The cases include allegations of inciting trouble and disturbing public order, with some social media influencers also booked. Security personnel remained deployed at sensitive locations.
The road-widening project is part of preparations for Simhastha 2028. A 1.5-km stretch from Kanthal Square to Gopal Mandir is being widened to 15 metres, affecting 323 structures, including 15 religious sites.
According to the Ujjain district administration, 12 of these structures have already been removed. A section of the Shahi Masjid measuring about nine feet in length and four feet in width falls within the proposed road alignment.
FOLLOW NOW
