“Sentiments Protected While Installing Lakshmi Bai Statue In Idgah Park”: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court was assured by city authorities on Friday that the installation of a statue of Maharani Lakshmi Bai at Shahi Idgah Park, Sadar Bazar, was being handled with care for “sentiments.”

During the hearing, the counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi explained that the statue had been placed 200 meters away from the Idgah wall, in a corner of the park, and a partition wall had been constructed to safeguard sentiments.

The court was reviewing an appeal from the Shahi Idgah Managing Committee, which sought to restrain the statue’s installation following a single judge’s order that had denied their request. The committee contended that Shahi Idgah Park is an ancient property from the Mughal era, primarily used for offering namaz.

During the proceedings, the bench, led by Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, noted that the statue had already been installed. To facilitate an amicable resolution, the court suggested that the authorities allow a delegation from the managing committee to visit the site to assess the statue’s placement.

“Take a small team and show them the area,” the bench instructed, permitting three representatives from the committee to inspect the site the following day.

On October 1, the court had questioned the basis of the committee’s opposition, pointing out that Maharani Lakshmi Bai is not a religious figure. It expressed a desire to avoid escalating the situation into a “flashpoint.” The bench emphasized on September 25 that Lakshmi Bai, a national hero, should not be a divisive figure in historical discussions influenced by communal politics.

The Shahi Idgah Managing Committee previously referred to a 1970 gazette notification declaring Shahi Idgah Park as an ancient site used for prayers, claiming it could accommodate up to 50,000 worshippers at once.

Despite this, the single judge had ruled that the committee lacked the legal standing to contest the maintenance and upkeep of the surrounding parks managed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), thereby allowing the MCD’s statue installation.

As the hearing continues, the case is scheduled for further examination on October 7, with the court hoping for a collaborative approach between the authorities and the managing committee.

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