Delhi High Court seeks response of ASI & Centre on plea against halt on prayers at Mughal Mosque in Mehrauli
Court was hearing a plea by the managing committee of the Delhi Waqf Board seeking expeditious disposal of its pending petition against the halt on the offering of prayers in the Mughal mosque in the city's Mehrauli area.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Centre and Archeological Survey of India (ASI) on a plea by the managing committee of the Delhi Waqf Board seeking expeditious disposal of its pending petition against the halt on offering at the Mughal mosque in the city's Mehrauli area.
Advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui appearing for the Board contended, “This matter is hanging for some time”. Siddiqui stated that there was urgency in the case as the month of Ramzan is ongoing, which shall soon culminate upon Eid-ul-Fitr, and the worshippers are waiting to offer their prayers in the Mughal Masjid.
Taking note of the submissions, Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued a notice to the Centre and the ASI. "Issue notice. List at the end of April," the court said. Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on April 27.
Notably, the petitioner had approached the high court last year with the grievance that the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) completely stopped the offering of namaz in the Mughal mosque on May 13, 2022, in an “absolutely unlawful, arbitrary and precipitous manner”, without serving any notice or order.
It had sought directions to restrain the authorities from causing any obstruction or interference in the performance of 'namaz' at the mosque in question, that is a waqf property notified as 'Masjid adjacent to Eastern Gate of Qutab Minar, Mehrauli' in Delhi Administration's Gazette Notification. The plea also sought authorities to be refrained from interfering with the performance of 'namaz' at the mosque in question.
The plea further sought that the court intervenes to ensure that there is no disruption of public order while prayers are offered every day without violating law and order. The use of the temporary mosque for worship is not causing any defacement or harm to the nation's heritage, the plea stated.
"Denying Muslims the opportunity to offer namaz in the present mosque is a form of violence and a violation of cultural liberty," the plea further added. Furthermore, the plea stated, "ASI, concerning the mosque in question, has no legal authority to regulate, let alone stop, the gathering of worshippers at the mosque in question."
Case Title: Managing Committee of Delhi Waqf Board v. Union of India & Ors.