Supreme Court stays demolition of mosques in Rajasthan border districts
The Supreme Court has granted interim relief to residents affected by the ongoing demolition drive targeting mosques, madrasas, dargahs, homes and other structures in Rajasthan’s
The Supreme Court has granted interim relief to residents affected by the ongoing demolition drive targeting mosques, madrasas, dargahs, homes and other structures in Rajasthan’s border districts. Hearing a petition filed on behalf of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the top court on Friday (July 17, 2026) ordered that no demolition of the properties shall take place for two weeks and directed the petitioners to approach the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur. Fact-finding visit The petition was filed on behalf of 40 affected people by Jamiat. Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Kapil Sibal advanced detailed submissions before the Bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.
The litigation followed a fact-finding visit undertaken by a high-level delegation of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind to the affected border districts of Rajasthan. The delegation documented the ground situation, met affected families and collected material relating to the demolition proceedings. The visit followed the demolition of at least four mosques in the border districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer last month. Based on its findings, nearly 40 petitions were filed before the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur on behalf of affected residents. The court, however, dismissed the concerns raised by the Jamiat citing national security in the sensitive border areas, and ruled out discrimination on the basis of religion.
Unabated demolitions The petitioners then approached the Supreme Court. During the hearing, Mr. Sibal submitted that demolition proceedings against residential properties, mosques, madrasas and other places were continuing unabated and that notices had been issued to hundreds of other residential and religious structures. After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court directed that no demolition shall be carried out for a period of two weeks in respect of the petitioners’ properties. The court observed that disputes involving contested questions of fact are more appropriately adjudicated by the jurisdictional High Court and accordingly permitted the petitioners to seek appropriate relief before the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur.
Jamiat’s reaction Reacting to the order, Mahmood Asad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, said the organisation would immediately approach the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court. He reiterated that the Muslim body will pursue every available legal remedy. “We remain confident that the rule of law and constitutional values will ultimately prevail,” he said.
The BriefWire