- By Imran Zafar
- Thu, 01 May 2025 08:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) not to proceed with any action against the Shahi Idgah in Sadar Bazar for using a park, allegedly owned by the DDA, for a religious event in December 2024. Justice Vikas Mahajan passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the Shahi Idgah Managing Committee.
The Delhi HC noted that the waqf tribunal, where the petitioner had filed a related suit, was currently non-functional. The matter was listed for further hearing on September 10.
"Renotify on September 10. In the meantime, having regard to the fact that the waqf tribunal is non-functional, where the petitioner has instituted a suit, it is directed that the DDA shall not take any action pursuant to its notice dated February 11, 2025," the court said as quoted by news agency PTI.
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According to the petitioner, the DDA had issued a notice on February 11, 2025, demanding Rs 12 lakh for using the park surrounding the Idgah to hold Ijtema, a religious congregation. The petitioner contended that the park was part of the Idgah premises and that the DDA had no legitimate claim over it. A suit challenging the DDA’s claim was filed before the waqf tribunal, but its proceedings remain stalled due to quorum issues.
The DDA argued that a single judge of the high court had already held that the park belonged to the authority while hearing a past petition involving the installation of a Maharani Lakshmi Bai statue. Although this decision was appealed, the division bench did not overturn the ruling. The petitioner maintained that the single judge lacked authority to rule on land ownership and that the division bench had left all legal contentions open.
The DDA claimed the Idgah held the religious event in its park without prior approval. The court has asked the DDA to respond formally to the petition.
(With PTI Inputs)