Delhi HC Closes Proceedings on 150-Year-Old Mosque Demolition Petition

The Delhi High Court on Monday closed proceedings in a petition by the Delhi Waqf Board concerning the potential demolition of a 150-year-old mosque at the Sunehri Bagh Road roundabout.

The city’s civic body asserted that the petitioner had no reason to anticipate such demolition.

The counsel for the Delhi Waqf Board expressed concerns about potential action by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) beyond legal bounds and requested the court’s protection against “arbitrary and illegal action.”

In response, the NDMC’s counsel vehemently opposed the submission, arguing that there was no basis for the petitioner to fear that the respondent would act outside the legal framework. The counsel emphasized that any action taken by the authorities would adhere to existing regulations.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav disposed of the petition, recording the statement of Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, who represented the NDMC.

The court stated, “Since the parties are largely agreed on the aforesaid issue, therefore, at this stage, this court is not required to adjudicate the prayer anymore. Accordingly, the parties are directed to be bound by the undertaking recorded here. The petition is disposed of.”

Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose, representing the Delhi Waqf Board, assured that any actions by the authorities would comply with the law.

The high court, which had previously issued an interim order directing the authorities to maintain the status quo, heard the plea seeking to restrain the NDMC from causing harm to the mosque.

The NDMC informed the court that a joint inspection had revealed the need to remove the mosque to use the land for safe traffic flow. The court was told that the land was required for redesigning the roundabout to facilitate safe traffic movement.

The petition also alleged that several waqf properties were recently demolished without following legal procedures, highlighting a perceived danger of arbitrary demolition of the referenced mosque.

The petition described a pattern where waqf properties were marked as obstructing traffic and then removed without proper procedures, often in the presence of heavy police or paramilitary force.

The mosque, in existence for more than 150 years, played a significant role in serving a large number of devotees.

The petition presented photographs taken on July 3, demonstrating that congestion was not due to the roundabout but rather uncontrolled parking on both carriageways of Motilal Nehru Marg.