A mosque in Hyderabad faced partial demolition amid a dispute over land ownership, prompting protests and the detention of an opposition lawmaker, before the Telangana High Court intervened and directed authorities not to carry out further demolition without following due process, The Siasat Daily and Ground News reported.
The Telangana High Court on Wednesday issued an interim direction barring authorities from taking coercive action or carrying out demolitions at Masjid-e-Mohamediyah in Chintalmet, Rajendranagar, without following the procedure established by law.
Justice Surepalli Nanda passed the order while hearing an urgent petition seeking the court's intervention to stop the demolition work at the mosque in Wadi-e-Sulaiman Nagar, in Telangana's Rangareddy district.
The petitioner's counsel told the court that demolition work had been carried out at the mosque premises, including its western compound, without prior notice. Photographs submitted to the court allegedly showed work continuing during both daytime and nighttime, raising concerns that the demolition could extend further into the mosque premises.
The counsel argued that even if the authorities suspected encroachment, they were legally required to follow the prescribed procedure before taking action.
The dispute escalated on Monday, October 12, when revenue officials, accompanied by police and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation personnel, arrived at the site and reportedly began demolishing a disputed wall.
Leaders of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Bahadurpura MLA Mohammed Mubeen, gathered at the site and demanded a joint survey of the land before any further action.
Mubeen was detained during the protest and taken to Ramgopalpet Police Station, according to The Siasat Daily. AIMIM corporator Mohammed Nawazuddin Ahmed was also reportedly detained.
Videos circulating on social media showed Mubeen questioning officials over the absence of a joint survey, arguing that the authorities should not proceed with demolition before verifying the land records.
Ahmed told The Siasat Daily that the mosque had been built around one-and-a-half years ago on a 300-square-yard plot. He claimed the land belonged to the Waqf Board and that the mosque had been legally constructed.
He said the mosque's boundaries had previously been marked and that relevant documents had been submitted to Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar and the mandal revenue officer.
According to Ahmed, the dispute intensified the previous week when earth-moving machinery was brought to the site to demolish part of the structure. He claimed the demolition was halted after AIMIM leaders demanded a survey.
The dispute centres on competing claims over the land and boundary wall, with some local residents reportedly claiming that the disputed property belongs to a temple, while AIMIM leaders maintain that it is Waqf land.
Ahmed also accused the Endowment Department of attempting to take over the property, allegations that have not been independently established.
The High Court's interim direction places legal procedure at the centre of the dispute, requiring authorities to refrain from coercive action or demolition at the mosque premises without complying with the law.
The petitioner's concerns included the possibility that demolition could spread beyond the disputed compound wall into other parts of the mosque.
The latest court intervention follows days of tension in Chintalmet, where police deployment was increased to prevent further unrest.
The land dispute remains unresolved, while the court's order restricts demolition action unless the required legal procedures are followed.