Indian authorities issue eviction notices to six mosques
Muslim religious institutions were given less than 24 hours to respond, prompting rights group concerns over due process and fair hearing
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Authorities in India’s western state of Rajasthan have issued eviction notices to several mosques and Islamic schools, ordering them to vacate land or explain why they should not be removed, a move that has sparked criticism from a civil rights organization over alleged violations of due process.
The notices were issued in the Gadra Road area of Barmer district, near India’s border with Pakistan. Mosque management committees were instructed to either vacate the land or appear before local revenue officials to justify their continued presence on the sites.
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), a legal advocacy and civil rights organization, condemned the action on Wednesday, arguing that affected institutions were given insufficient time to respond. According to the group, notices dated June 11 were delivered only on the evening of June 17, requiring recipients to appear before authorities the following day.
APCR said the timeline left mosque committees with less than 24 hours to obtain legal assistance, gather property records and prepare a defense against possible eviction proceedings.
The controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of actions taken against Muslim religious institutions in several Indian states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In recent years, mosques, madrasas and other Muslim-owned properties have faced demolition drives, land disputes and legal challenges that critics say disproportionately affect minority communities.
The rights group argued that the Rajasthan notices violate basic principles of natural justice, including the long-established legal requirement that affected parties be given a meaningful opportunity to present their case before any adverse decision is taken.
APCR further contended that the notices raise constitutional concerns because India’s constitution guarantees equality before the law, freedom of religion and the right of religious institutions to manage their own affairs. The organization also pointed to Supreme Court rulings that stress the need for adequate notice and access to judicial remedies before evictions or demolitions are carried out.
While authorities have not publicly detailed the specific grounds for the proposed evictions, APCR said any questions regarding land ownership or construction should be resolved through transparent legal procedures, impartial investigations and judicial review rather than expedited administrative action.
The group also expressed concern about what it described as a pattern of simultaneous notices being issued to multiple mosques, warning that such actions risk undermining public confidence in the fairness of administrative processes.
APCR has called for the immediate suspension of the eviction proceedings and urged authorities to ensure that no demolition or removal takes place without a full hearing and judicial scrutiny. The organization said it is prepared to pursue legal action if coercive measures are taken against the affected institutions.
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