Gujarat High Court clears AMC plan to partially demolish 400-year-old mosque in Ahmedabad, citing traffic relief and public interest.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has dismissed a petition filed by the Manch Masjid Trust, allowing the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to go ahead with the partial demolition of a 400-year-old mosque in Saraspur. The court ruled that the project serves public interest by easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between Kalupur railway station and the Ahmedabad Metro Junction.

Justice Mauna M. Bhatt, who delivered the verdict on September 23, held that the Waqf Act does not apply in this case. Instead, the AMC acted under the special provisions of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations (GPMC) Act, which grants the municipal commissioner authority to issue demolition orders.

The mosque trust had opposed the decision, citing the mosque’s cultural and religious significance. The trust, registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, argued that the demolition disregards religious freedom and that earlier objections filed in January 2025 were not properly considered.

Officials, however, defended the move, stressing that all legal procedures had been followed. They maintained that urban development projects cannot be delayed indefinitely and that road widening was necessary for the city’s growth.

Analysis While the government cites “public interest,” critics warn that repeated demolitions of heritage religious sites raise concerns about preserving cultural identity. Balancing development needs with heritage protection remains a pressing challenge for urban planners and courts alike. Local residents fear that unchecked demolition could erode the city’s diverse history, while civic bodies argue that modern infrastructure requires difficult compromises.