The Management Committee of the 180-year-old Noori Jama Masjid in Fatehpur has moved the Allahabad High Court challenging the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department’s plan to demolish a significant portion of the mosque for road widening. The plea has sought the High Court’s urgent intervention to halt the demolition of Noori Jama Masjid and to secure its recognition and protection as a heritage site.
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Uttar Pradesh: The Management Committee of the iconic Noori Jama Masjid, a 180-year-old mosque located in Fatehpur, has approached the Allahabad High Court to challenge the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department’s (PWD) plan to demolish a substantial part of the mosque as part of a road-widening project.
The petition, filed by advocate Syed Azeem Uddin, calls for urgent judicial intervention to prevent the demolition of the Noori Jama Masjid. The plea also seeks official recognition and protection of the mosque as a heritage site, emphasizing its historical, cultural, and religious significance to the local community.
According to the plea, the Noori Jama Masjid in Fatehpur’s Lalauli area has served as a cornerstone for the local Muslim community for nearly two centuries. The mosque has been described as a hub for religious, cultural, and social activities, symbolizing the heritage and collective identity of the region.
The petition highlights the irreversible consequences of demolishing the structure:
“Demolishing the Masjid would irreparably harm the local community and the nation’s cultural heritage, as historical structures cannot be restored once destroyed.”
The plea criticizes the authorities for failing to address repeated requests to protect the mosque.
It states:
“Despite repeated follow-ups, the Respondents have failed to act on this representation, amounting to a dereliction of their statutory duties. It is submitted that the inaction by authorities in protecting cultural and historical heritage is a violation of their duty under the public trust doctrine.”
This inaction, the petition argues, not only neglects statutory responsibilities but also risks erasing a crucial piece of India’s cultural and religious history.
The petition requests the Allahabad High Court to restrain the Uttar Pradesh Government from proceeding with any demolition actions based on the trespass notice issued to the mosque.
It further urges the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to evaluate a representation for declaring the Noori Jama Masjid a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
As the mosque stands at the crossroads of heritage and development, the petition underscores its pivotal role in preserving the cultural and historical identity of the region.
Advocates of the mosque’s protection argue that its demolition would set a damaging precedent for safeguarding other historic structures across the country.
The Allahabad High Court’s decision in this case will have far-reaching implications for the balance between infrastructure development and heritage conservation, potentially influencing future cases involving the preservation of cultural landmarks.
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