Delhi High Court

Delhi HC Advances Hearing on Plea Challenging Ban on Mughal Mosque Prayer

The Delhi High Court has expedited the date of the hearing to December 1 on a petition challenging the ban on offering prayers in the Mughal Mosque situated in the Mehrauli area.

The managing committee of the Mughal Mosque, appointed by the Delhi Waqf Board, had approached the high court last year, alleging that officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had abruptly and unlawfully ceased the offering of namaz in the mosque on May 13, 2022.

In response to the petitioner’s request for an early hearing, Justice Prateek Jalan issued an order, stating, “List on 01.12.2023. The previously scheduled date of hearing, i.e., 30.01.2024, has been canceled.” Advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui, representing the petitioner, emphasized that prayers had been regularly conducted inside the mosque until last year when the ASI abruptly halted them without prior notice.

Notably, the court had previously asked the ASI to clarify its policy regarding permitting prayers by devotees in religious places located within protected monuments.

In its response to the petition, the ASI asserted that the concerned mosque falls within the boundaries of the Qutub Minar and is thus located within a protected area where offering of prayers cannot be allowed. The ASI also cautioned that permitting worship in the Mughal Mosque could potentially set a precedent and influence other monuments as well.

The ASI’s response stated, “Qutub Minar is a Monument of National Importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is submitted that it is not a place of worship, since the time of its protection the monument or any part of it, has not been used for any type of worship by any community. It is submitted that the Mosque in question comes within the boundary of Qutub Minar Complex.”

Nunnem Gangte

Recent Posts

Centre Opposes Ex-Judges Panel To Monitor Stubble Burning In SC

The Centre on Friday opposed a proposal in the Supreme Court to form a committee…

8 hours ago

“It’s A Celebration For Us”: Delhi HC Bar Association Felicitates CJI Sanjiv Khanna

The Delhi High Court Bar Association on Friday honored Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv…

9 hours ago

International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Israeli PM Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court has recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,…

9 hours ago

Cal HC Stays Demolition Of Illegal Constructions In WB’s Mandarmoni

The Calcutta High Court on Friday granted an interim stay on the demolition of alleged…

9 hours ago

SC To Pass Order On Pleas To Efface Words ‘Secular’, ‘Socialist’ From Preamble

The Supreme Court on Friday announced that it would deliver its order on November 25…

10 hours ago

Air Pollution: SC Questions Delhi Govt On Truck Entry Amid GRAP-4 Restrictions

The Supreme Court raised concerns on Friday about the "drastic" consequences of the GRAP Stage…

10 hours ago