DEORIA — The Allahabad High Court has granted major relief to the Shaheed Abdul Ghani Shah Mazar Committee by staying the demolition order passed by the SDM court against the historic Mazar in Deoria city, Uttar Pradesh. The court directed that the existing condition of the site be maintained.
The case pertains to the Shaheed Abdul Ghani Shah Mazar, situated beneath a railway overbridge in the city. Acting on an SDM court order, the local administration reached the site on Sunday, January 11, with three bulldozers and demolished the boundary wall of the Mazar. The action triggered fear and anger among local Muslims, who alleged that a place of faith and an adjoining graveyard were targeted without due process.
Challenging the SDM court’s order dated November 19, 2025, the Mazar Committee approached the Allahabad High Court. A single bench of Justice Prakash Padia heard the matter and ordered a complete stay on any further demolition. The court also directed that the status quo be maintained at the disputed site, including the Mazar and the graveyard.
A member of the Mazar Committee said, “This Mazar is not just bricks and stones; it is deeply connected to our history and faith. The bulldozer action hurt the sentiments of the entire community.”
The committee denied allegations that the Mazar was constructed on encroached land. “Prayers have been offered here for years. The administration acted in haste and demolished the boundary wall without allowing the legal process to conclude,” another committee member told reporters.
The High Court further directed the Mazar Committee to file a stay application before the Divisional Commissioner and instructed the Commissioner to decide the matter within three weeks.
The committee’s counsel said, “The court’s order has protected both the Mazar and the graveyard. It reinforces faith in the rule of law, especially for minorities facing such actions.”
Meanwhile, the issue has taken a communal turn, with some Hindu organisations expressing objections over photographs of public figures Payal and Mannara visiting Muslim religious sites, including Mazars. Muslim leaders alleged that such reactions were being used to create pressure against Islamic places of worship.
A local resident said, “People from all faiths visit shrines with respect. Turning this into a controversy is unjust. The law must treat everyone equally.”
For now, the High Court’s intervention has brought relief to the local Muslim community, which views the stay order as protection against selective bulldozer action and an opportunity to present its case before the authorities.
