Lucknow mosque and madrasa face land dispute as revenue court issues notices to four managers

Millat Times Desk

24 October 2026 (Publish: 09:17 AM IST)

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A mosque and a madrasa in Khujhauli village, on the outskirts of Lucknow, have come under scrutiny after a government inquiry reportedly found that parts of the buildings stand on land recorded as a pond. 

A revenue court in Mohanlalganj has issued notices to four people managing the institutions, asking them to appear on October 29 and present documents challenging the findings.

The proceedings have raised concerns among local Muslims, who fear that a dispute involving a small portion of land could lead to action against the religious and educational institutions. 

However, no final eviction or demolition order has been issued, and the case does not establish that the entire mosque or madrasa stands on government land.

According to local revenue officials, the case began after villagers filed a complaint through the Uttar Pradesh government’s grievance portal. The complainants alleged that parts of the mosque and madrasa had been constructed on land designated for a pond.

Following the complaint, a revenue inspector and a local land records official inspected the site. Their inquiry reportedly found permanent structures occupying approximately 0.03 hectares, or around 300 square metres, of the disputed land.

The revenue court has initiated proceedings under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006. The provision allows authorities to take action against unauthorised occupation of certain categories of public land.

The four managers have been summoned to appear before the court on October 29. They will have an opportunity to submit land records and other documents and contest the government’s findings.

Several questions remain unanswered, including how long the structures have existed, who is recorded as the legal owner of the disputed plot, and whether the management has formally responded to the allegations.

The Khujhauli case comes amid wider concerns over the treatment of Muslim religious properties in Uttar Pradesh.

In a separate case, authorities recently demolished a mosque located inside a government administrative complex in Saharanpur after a local court upheld an order declaring the structure an unauthorised occupation of public land.

The demolition drew criticism from Muslim organisations and political leaders, who questioned whether the mosque’s management had received an adequate opportunity to challenge the decision.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati also criticised the hurried demolition of mosques and called on authorities to respect religious institutions and follow established legal procedures.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the demolition, raising concerns about religious freedom and the legal rights of Muslim communities. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind said it was examining historical land records and legal documents to determine its next course of action.

The upcoming hearing in Mohanlalganj will give the four managers an opportunity to challenge the findings concerning the land recorded as a pond. The court’s proceedings will help determine how the dispute moves forward.

For now, the case remains at the notice stage, with no final demolition or eviction order reported. The outcome will depend on the evidence presented, the land records examined and the court’s decision on the alleged encroachment.

The central question is whether the management can establish its case regarding the disputed portion of land and prevent further action against the mosque and madrasa.