Mosque, madrasa face eviction threat in India’s Uttar Pradesh
Authorities initiate proceedings against Muslim religious institutions as concerns grow over demolitions under BJP rule
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A mosque and an Islamic seminary in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state face possible eviction after authorities initiated legal proceedings over claims that parts of the religious institutions were constructed on government land, raising fresh concerns about the security of Muslim places of worship under the state’s Hindu nationalist government.
A revenue court in Mohanlalganj, on the outskirts of Lucknow, has issued notices to four people responsible for managing the mosque and madrasa in Khujhauli village. The action follows a government inquiry that reportedly identified construction on 300 square meters of land classified as a pond in official records.
The proceedings were initiated under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006, which allows authorities to seek the removal of unauthorized occupation from certain categories of public land.
According to local revenue officials, the investigation began after villagers submitted a complaint through the state government’s grievance portal, claiming that portions of the mosque and madrasa had been constructed on land designated for a pond.
A revenue inspector and a local land records official subsequently examined the site and reported that permanent structures occupied approximately 0.03 hectares of the disputed land.
The four individuals overseeing the religious institutions have been summoned to appear before the revenue court on October 29, when they will be allowed to present documents and challenge the findings.
No final eviction or demolition order has been issued. The proceedings concern a specific portion of land and do not establish that the entire mosque or madrasa occupies government property.
The case comes amid growing controversy over government action against Muslim religious institutions in Uttar Pradesh, which is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a separate case, authorities recently demolished a mosque within the government administrative complex in Saharanpur after a local court upheld an order declaring the structure an unauthorized occupation of public land.
The demolition drew criticism from Muslim organizations and political leaders, who questioned whether the mosque’s management had been given sufficient opportunity to challenge the decision.
Prominent Muslim lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the demolition and raised concerns about the protection of religious freedom and the legal rights of Muslim communities.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a leading Muslim organization, also questioned the circumstances surrounding the demolition and said it was examining historical land records and legal documents to determine possible further action.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati criticized the hurried demolition of mosques and urged authorities to respect religious institutions and follow established legal procedures.
Although these objections concerned the separate Saharanpur case, they reflect wider concerns over the treatment of Muslim religious properties in the state.
The Khujhauli proceedings will now determine whether the mosque and madrasa management can successfully challenge the government’s land classification and prevent further action against the institutions.
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