The Shimla mosque row has escalated dramatically, with significant legal and social repercussions following a court order regarding the expansion of a mosque in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. On September 11, 2024, large-scale protests erupted in Shimla’s Sanjauli area, where demonstrators clashed with police, demanding the demolition of what they claim are unauthorized portions of a five-storey mosque.

The Shimla Municipal Corporation has been at the center of this controversy. On September 7, 2024, the court scrutinized the mosque's expansion from its original single-floor structure to a five-storey building. The court has instructed the Waqf Board and the mosque committee to explain this development. The Waqf Board, which manages the land where the mosque is built, has been accused of illegal construction, as it has been unable to produce the necessary documentation authorizing the expansion.

The dispute intensified when a large number of protesters took to the streets of Shimla, armed with the Tricolour and chanting slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Hindu Ekta Zindabad’. The demonstration quickly escalated into violence, with protesters breaking barricades and clashing with police, leading to injuries on both sides. In response, the police deployed mild lathi-charges and water cannons to disperse the crowds, while several protesters and police officers were injured in the scuffle.

The local administration has since imposed Section 163 of the BNSS of 2023, which restricts the assembly of more than five people without prior permission and prohibits the carrying of arms. This measure aims to maintain public order amidst the ongoing unrest.

The roots of this controversy lie in longstanding demands from various Hindu organizations for the demolition of what they allege to be unauthorized portions of the mosque. These groups have also called for the verification of the antecedents of local Muslims, suspecting some to be ‘Rohingyas’ or ‘Bangladeshis’. They argue that these steps are necessary to protect the local demographic and ensure that all constructions are legally sanctioned.

The court hearing on October 5, 2024, will further explore the legality of the mosque's expansion. Meanwhile, the Waqf Board has argued that the land belongs to them and that the construction followed the regulations. However, they have yet to provide adequate proof to support their claims.

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