- Delhi HC denied namaz permission at Race Course Mosque.
- Central government halted demolition for four weeks.
- Waqf Board's representation to be decided soon.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to grant relief to Muslim worshippers seeking permission to offer namaz at the Race Course Mosque, near the prime minister's residence. The Central government has assured that no demolition work will be carried out until a representation concerning the structure is decided.
The plea, filed by Syed Ahmed Saud, was heard by the bench of Justice Anish Dayal. During the court proceedings, the Land and Development Office, represented by Central government standing counsel Ashish Dixit, assured the bench that no action would be taken against the structure.
He told the court that the representation submitted by the Delhi Waqf Board would be decided within four weeks. Any action on the issue will be taken after the representation is decided.
After the government's submission, the High Court deferred that matter for the next hearing. The matter has been listed for December 16.
During the hearing, the Central government standing counsel also questioned the maintainability of Saud's petition, arguing that he has no locus standi to approach the court in the matter. In a cautionary argument, Dixit said that allowing petitions by individual worshippers would open floodgates for multiple similar cases.
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Saud, represented by Advocate M Sufiyan Siddiqui, objected to the Centre's submission, claiming that restricted access and disconnected electricity and water connections have heightened concerns about the mosque's future.
The petitioner has claimed that the mosque was notified as a Waqf property in the Delhi Gazette in 1977. On October 1, it was granted Grade-II heritage recognition through an official notification. The petitioner has argued that an approval will be required from the competent heritage authorities before any alteration or demolition exercise is taken up.