Local Muslim organisations and mosque committee members dispute the official claim that notices were served well in advance
JAIPUR — A 45-year-old mosque was demolished in Jaipur’s Malviya Nagar area on Monday amid heavy police presence and internet restrictions. Officials said the operation was part of a road-widening drive, a claim that has sparked concern among residents of Rajasthan’s capital..
Built in 1981, the Noorani Mosque was razed by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) amid tight security. More than 3,000 police personnel were deployed across the area, and mobile internet services were suspended a day earlier.
According to officials, the demolition was part of a long-pending project to widen Nandpuri Road, a 1.5-kilometre stretch running alongside the railway line. The road, currently around 25 to 30 feet wide, is planned to be expanded to its approved width of 80 feet.
Authorities said several structures obstructing the project had been identified for removal, including the mosque, a mazar, two small temples, and a satsang hall.
The district administration maintained that notices were served well in advance and that occupants were allowed to remove the structures voluntarily before demolition began.
However, local Muslim organisations and mosque committee members have strongly refuted the claim.
Mohammad Nazimuddin, president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Rajasthan unit and secretary of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum, alleged that the authorities acted in haste and did not allow enough time for legal remedies.
He said the mosque received a notice on June 6 directing it to vacate the premises. The following day, representatives met officials and sought additional time to respond to allegations that the structure was an “illegal encroachment.”
According to him, the matter was also pending before a court, raising questions about the urgency of the demolition.
Nazimuddin said nearly 100 houses were also demolished for the road-widening project, but residents were not given a meaningful opportunity to challenge the claims made against the mosque.
“Around 100 houses were also demolished for this road-widening project. But the thing to notice here is that we did not get any time to address the illegal encroachment allegations that the authorities levelled against the mosque,” said Nazimuddin as quoted by Maktoob Media.
He further stated that the mosque stood on privately purchased land and was constructed in 1981, initially as a small tin-roofed prayer space before being expanded over the years.
Members of the mosque committee said they were shocked by the manner in which the operation was carried out. They claimed they would have cooperated if authorities had sought only a portion of the land required for the road expansion.
The committee has maintained that the mosque was built on land purchased from a JDA-approved society.
While the authorities have defended the move, saying that the road widening will improve the connectivity between Jagatpura and key areas such as Malviya Nagar, Pradhan Marg and Apex Circle, the demolition has drawn criticism from political leaders and residents.
Congress MLA Rafiq Khan questioned the urgency of the move, saying issues involving places of worship should be addressed through dialogue and consensus to preserve communal harmony.
Anwar Khan, a resident, refuting the encroachment claims, said, “The land had been legally purchased in 1981 by the locals and the structure was built with community contributions.”
He further said that the proposed road expansion had originally been presented as a much smaller project before the width was increased to 80 feet.
Citing Supreme Court guidelines on handling religious structures, Anwar and other residents questioned whether proper procedures were followed and whether authorities had explored alternatives before the demolition.
“We were not even served an official notice,” Anwar said.
