Kodangal Religious Demolition Row Reaches HC: Status Quo Ordered till Further Hearing
(By: Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Hyderabad, September 29, 2025 — In a significant judicial intervention, the Telangana High Court has directed municipal authorities to maintain status quo concerning the recently demolished religious structures in Kodangal, offering temporary relief to the aggrieved community pending further legal examination.
The directive was issued by Justice B. Vijaya Sen Reddy while adjudicating a writ petition filed by Irshad Ali Khan, who challenged the Kodangal municipality’s actions during a road-widening initiative that led to the razing of several religious sites. The demolished structures reportedly include three graveyards, an Ashoor Khana, and a Dargah—properties claimed to be protected under the Waqf Act.
Justice Reddy, in his preliminary observations, noted prima facie violations of statutory provisions enshrined in the Waqf Act, 1995, and underscored potential infringements of constitutional safeguards afforded to religious minorities under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. The Court emphasized that municipal authorities appeared to have proceeded without following due process, thereby undermining the legal sanctity of waqf properties.
The High Court’s order to preserve the status quo effectively halts any further municipal activity on the disputed sites and signals judicial scrutiny into the legality of the administrative action. The matter is slated for further hearing, with the Court expected to examine whether the demolition contravened established legal norms governing religious and waqf properties.
Interim Relief and Status Quo Order Recognizing the urgency and gravity of the rights involved, the High Court issued a categorical order restraining the authorities from any further interference, demolition, or usage of the disputed sites, until further directions are passed by the court. This interim measure ensures that the status quo ante is preserved, pending detailed judicial examination, thereby upholding the constitutional and statutory ethos governing religious properties in Telangana.
Political Developments and Community Impact. The court’s intervention comes amidst heightened political tension in Vikarabad district, where the demolitions led to protests and detentions of local political leaders and activists advocating for the restoration and protection of the religious sites. The judicial order serves as a safeguard for minority rights and religious freedoms, placing the matter firmly within the ambit of ongoing judicial review
