Explain the basis on which ‘600-year-old’ mosque was razed: HC to DDA
DDA's counsel had submitted that the demolition action was taken pursuant to the “recommendations of the Religious Committee”.
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The HC was hearing an application for interim relief pertaining to the demolition of the mosque, the Behrul Uloom madrasa, and various graves, filed in a 2022 pending matter. (File/ Express Photo)The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to inform the court the basis on which Akhoondji Masjid – a mosque located in the city’s Mehrauli area and believed to be 600 years old – was demolished by the authority on January 30.
A single-judge bench of Justice Sachin Datta, in its January 31 order, said, “Let the DDA file its reply within a period of one week clearly setting out the action that has been taken in respect of the concerned property and the basis thereof and as to whether any prior notice was given before taking the demolition action”.
DDA’s counsel had submitted that the demolition action was taken pursuant to the “recommendations of the Religious Committee”. It was submitted that prior to taking the decision on the demolition on January 4, the committee had given an “opportunity of hearing to the CEO of Delhi Waqf Board”.
The petitioner, the Managing Committee of the Delhi Waqf Board represented by advocate Shams Khwaja, had “vehemently” submitted that the Religious Committee has “no jurisdiction to order any demolition action”.
Justice Datta, thereafter, said this aspect shall be considered on the next date of hearing and listed the matter on February 12.
The HC was hearing an application for interim relief pertaining to the demolition of the mosque, the Behrul Uloom madrasa, and various graves, filed in a 2022 pending matter.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Zakir Hussain, who has been the mosque’s Imam for the last 1.5 years, had said, “We were barely given 10 minutes to gather our things before the machines came and demolition started”.
He has alleged the authorities took away his phone, escorted him away from the site and cordoned it off, deploying CISF personnel along the perimeter. The rubble from the demolition was collected and disposed of almost immediately, The Indian Express had reported Thursday.
Locals claim the mosque was built during Razia Sultana’s reign, making the structure nearly 600-700 years old.
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