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The Delhi High Court bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri today asked the Centre to clarify which portions of the Masjid Bangle Wali at Nizamuddin Markaz can be opened for devotees to offer prayers, and as to why the Centre is objecting to reopening of the entire Masjid.

The Court has listed the matter for further hearing on Monday.

Public entry was banned at the Nizamuddin Markaz after a large number of  Tablighi Jamaat members tested positive for Covid-19 at the peak of the pandemic in 2020.

The Centre told Court today that they have no objection to the opening of the first floor for offering of prayers during Shab-e-Barat and Ramzan, as the offering of namaz was allowed for upto five people earlier as well. The Centre offered to allow the same arrangement for religious days as well.

However, the bench enquired why this was not being allowed for all days, if there is a clear demarcation of the Masjid and as there is no restriction on the number of people by Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) anymore.

Delhi Waqf Board, on the other hand, relied on an order of DDMA dated February 26, 2022, withdrawing all the Covid-19 restrictions and argued that the Markaz premises should be reopened as DDMA's mandate for "other religious places will govern this place also."

"It is difficult to understand why the Central government wants to put all the devotees only on the first floor," he said.

Cause Title: Delhi Waqf Board through its Chairman vs Government of NCT of Delhi & Anr.