The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Monday, rejected an appeal lodged by the Shahi Mosque committee that challenged an earlier order permitting the partial demolition under a municipal road‑widening scheme.
Under the settlement, the mosque administration and the Municipal Corporation agreed that less than 10 percent of the mosque’s total area would be excised; the mosque committee has already begun dismantling the affected section.
The demolition is tied to a 900‑metre stretch from Kanthal Square to Gopal Mandir, which authorities plan to widen to 15 metres ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh festival. The project will employ heavy earthmoving equipment and deploy 2,500 police officers.
Protests erupted across Ujjain, with stone‑petalling and tear‑gas shells used to disperse crowds. Women were pushed forward as they tried to move through alleys, and police reports recorded stone‑throwing incidents.
The court’s ruling allows the municipal authorities to proceed with the removal under the settlement, with the demolition slated to continue in the coming days.