The Allahabad High Court has restrained the Uttar Pradesh government from carrying out any further demolition at the 180-year-old Noori Jama Masjid in Fatehpur, granting interim protection to the Mosque. The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justice Atul Shridharan and Justice Arun Kumar while hearing a petition filed by the Mosque Management Committee.
During the hearing, the petitioners informed the Court that a portion of the Mosque had already been demolished pursuant to a notice issued by the authorities, and the remaining structure was under imminent threat. The State, however, claimed that the demolition was part of a road-widening project and that the work had “already been completed.” The petitioners immediately refuted this, asserting that the work was still underway and that the mosque continued to face the risk of further damage.
In view of the dispute, the State counsel assured the Bench that no additional demolition would be undertaken until the next hearing. The Bench recorded this assurance as part of its order and directed that,
“Till the next date of listing, no further action of the demolition shall take place in the Mosque.”
Considering the urgency and need of widening the road, the Court directed the instant matter to be listed on top of the item on 17.11.2025 as fresh, to enable the State government to obtain necessary instructions.
Located in Lalouli village, the Noori Jama Masjid is described as a significant religious, cultural and social centre for the local community. According to records, the PWD had last year issued a proposal for acquiring and demolishing a 150 sq. ft. portion of the mosque as part of a 40-foot road-widening plan along a 2 km stretch of NH-335.
Case: Managing Committee, Noori Jama Masjid vs State Of U.P. And 3 Others
