India, Sept. 11 -- The Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file its response within three weeks to a petition challenging the demolition of a mosque located on the Saharanpur collectorate premises.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal fixed October 12 for the next hearing and stayed the realisation of a fine of Rs 6 crore imposed on the mosque management until then.

The petition, filed by advocate Mohammad Tanveer Ahmad, challenges orders passed by the Saharanpur city magistrate on July 16 and the district judge on September 2.

The city magistrate had passed the order under the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction and Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1972, directing the demolition of the 315-square-metre mosq...