UP: Fatehpur administration demolishes part of 180-year-old Noori Jama Masjid citing encroachment

Portion of a 180-year-old Noori Jama Masjid razed under anti-encroachment drive

A portion of the 180-year-old Noori Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district was demolished on Tuesday for allegedly encroaching upon the Banda-Fatehpur Road. The district administration clarified that the mosque’s main structure remains intact, and the demolition was limited to extensions constructed in the past three years.

About Noori Jama Masjid

Built-in the early 19th century, Noori Jama Masjid has been a significant religious and cultural landmark in Fatehpur. The mosque, renowned for its historical architecture and religious importance, has been central to the local Muslim community’s religious life for nearly two centuries.

However, with growing infrastructure needs, its vicinity came under scrutiny when the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) launched a major road expansion and drainage project along the Banda-Fatehpur Road.

Encroachment and demolition drive

Avinash Tripathi, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Finance and Revenue, stated that the PWD had served notices to 139 encroaching entities in August 2024, including shopkeepers, house owners, and the Noori Jama Masjid management.

“The PWD issued notices to remove encroachments so that road expansion and drain construction work could begin. The mosque committee was among those notified,” Tripathi explained.

According to Tripathi, most individuals complied with the removal orders in September, including the mosque committee, which dismantled encroaching shops adjacent to the mosque. However, the committee reportedly did not clear a newly constructed section of the mosque itself, leading to Tuesday’s demolition.

Pending court petition

The mosque committee had approached the Allahabad High Court seeking relief from the demolition order, but the case had yet to be listed for hearing at the time of the demolition.

“The committee has filed a petition in the high court, but it is still pending listing for a hearing,” Tripathi said, emphasizing that the demolition was carried out strictly within legal parameters.

Community reaction and next steps

The development has sparked discussions among locals, given the mosque’s historical and cultural value. While the administration maintains that the demolition was limited to unauthorized extensions, concerns over the preservation of heritage structures amid expanding urban projects remain pressing.

With the main structure of Noori Jama Masjid still standing, the community hopes for a resolution that balances development with historical preservation. Local leaders have called for a peaceful dialogue to ensure such heritage sites are protected while fulfilling modern infrastructure needs.

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