Supreme Court Delivers Major Verdict on 200-Year-Old Ujjain Mosque Case — Petition Dismissed, Muslim Side Faces Setback

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has delivered a significant verdict in the case concerning the demolition of the 200-year-old Takia Mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The apex court has refused to interfere with the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, marking a major setback for the Muslim petitioners.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed the plea filed by the Muslim side, which had challenged the demolition of the mosque earlier this year. The petitioners argued that the mosque had been illegally razed to make way for the expansion of parking facilities near the Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the most revered Hindu shrines in the country.

The Supreme Court, however, observed that it found no error in the High Court’s judgment and held that the petitioners were free to pursue remedies available under the law, including seeking appropriate compensation.

Senior advocate M.R. Shamshad, appearing for the petitioners, contended that the case required urgent judicial intervention as the demolition had allegedly violated constitutional and statutory protections. He further objected to the High Court’s observation that “the right to practice religion has no connection with any particular place.”

According to Shamshad, the mosque had been a duly notified Waqf property since 1985 and had functioned as a place of worship until its demolition. Despite these arguments, the Supreme Court declined to reopen the matter, upholding the High Court’s view that the land had been lawfully acquired for the Mahakal Lok corridor expansion project.

Petition Filed by 13 Local Residents

Thirteen local residents of Ujjain, who claimed to be regular worshippers at the mosque, had jointly filed the petition in the Supreme Court. They alleged that the demolition violated the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, the Waqf Act, and land acquisition laws related to compensation and rehabilitation.

The High Court had earlier dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the right to religion cannot be tied to a specific site of worship, and that the land acquisition had been conducted following due legal process.

Background

The 200-year-old Takia Mosque in Ujjain was demolished earlier this year as part of the Mahakal Lok Project, aimed at developing infrastructure and parking facilities surrounding the historic Mahakaleshwar Temple. The project has been a centerpiece of religious tourism and urban redevelopment efforts in the city.

With the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene, the High Court’s decision now stands final — bringing closure to one of the most debated religious property disputes in Madhya Pradesh in recent years.