Tensions Rise in Varanasi: Dispute Over Ganj Shaheeda Masjid Notice
VARANASI — A fresh controversy has erupted in Varanasi as the railway administration’s ongoing anti-encroachment drive, aimed at redeveloping Kashi Station into a modern integrated transport hub, has issued a demolition notice to the historic Ganj Shaheeda Masjid.
The Railway’s Claim
As part of the ambitious ₹350–400 crore project to transform Kashi Railway Station, the railway administration posted a notice on the walls of the Ganj Shaheeda Masjid on June 12, 2026. The notice alleges that the structure is an "illegal construction on railway land" situated near the station's main entrance, obstructing essential development work.
The directive mandates that the premises be vacated by June 20, 2026, warning that the railway administration reserves the right to proceed with demolition if the structure is not removed by the deadline. The notice cites the dismissal of a civil suit (Anjuman Intizamia vs. Union of India, Suit No. 1174/1991) on August 28, 2024, as legal grounds for the action.
Mosque Committee Challenges Notice
The Anjuman Intejamia Masajid Committee has vehemently rejected the railway’s claims, terming the notice "misleading" and questioning its procedural validity. S.M. Yasin, the committee’s joint secretary, highlighted several points of contention:
Lack of Authentication: The committee pointed out that the notice was typed on plain white paper and lacked the signature or seal of any authorized railway official, nor did it contain an issuance date.
Historical Precedence: Yasin asserts that the mosque predates the railway infrastructure in the area. He claims the site is recorded in historical settlement maps dating back to 1883–84 and was officially registered with the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board in 1967.
Misinterpretation of Legal Suit: The committee maintains that the 1991 lawsuit mentioned in the railway's notice pertained to land on the eastern side of the mosque and was unrelated to the mosque's ownership. Furthermore, they argue that the railway administration had previously acknowledged the mosque’s existence in an affidavit submitted during that very litigation.
Current Situation
The posting of the notice has caused significant unrest among local residents, drawing crowds to the site to assess the situation. In response to the railway's notice, the Anjuman Intejamia Masajid Committee has formally posted a counter-notice at the site.
Committee leadership has stated their intention to challenge the matter in the High Court, emphasizing that they will fight the demolition at every legal level to protect the site. With the June 20 deadline approaching, all eyes remain on the evolving situation as the local administration balances infrastructure development with the preservation of historical and religious sites.