3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Oct 2, 2024 10:21 PM IST
On September 27, a division bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Amit Sharma directed the ASI to produce the original file relating to the Jama Masjid on the next hearing date, October 23. (Express File Photo)
In response to petitions highlighting the need for Jama Masjid to be declared a protected monument, the Delhi High Court recently granted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) a “final opportunity” to produce the original file of the Ministry of Culture, in which a decision was taken not to declare the Mughal-era mosque a protected monument.
The court has been directing the government to produce the original file since 2018. While the file was subsequently produced before the court, on August 28, the ASI submitted that the original letter dated October 20, 2004 – written by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh – was “missing”. The ASI officials had, however, assured the court that they were “taking steps to trace the same”.
On September 27, a division bench of Justice Prathiba Singh and Justice Amit Sharma directed the ASI to produce the original file on the next hearing date, October 23.
The bench recorded, “This shall be the final opportunity for the production of the original file in relation to the Jama Masjid.” It also directed the ASI to file an affidavit regarding various aspects of Jama Masjid.
“…it is noticed that the file relating to the Jama Masjid does not mention its status as a protected monument, nor does it include details about the maintenance activities that are being undertaken by the ASI, the current occupants of the Jama Masjid or how the revenue is generated and utilised, etc. Let a short affidavit be filed by the competent official of the ASI in respect of the above aspects, and the original file relating to the Jama Masjid be produced before court on the next date of hearing,” the court directed.
It specified that the ASI director general should assign a knowledgeable official to file an affidavit regarding the Jama Masjid. This should be done under the direct supervision of the director general who should hold a meeting with the central government standing counsels Anil Soni and Manish Mohan, “to ensure that a comprehensive affidavit is filed as to the above aspects in respect of the Jama Masjid”.
The directions came in two petitions from 2014, which raised issues regarding Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari’s announcement that he would anoint his youngest son as Naib Imam at a ceremony on November 22, 2014, after he had proclaimed himself the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid.
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The petitions challenged the legality of this anointment, claiming that it was unauthorised, and sought directions to stop the ceremony. The petitioners highlighted the need for the Jama Masjid to be declared a protected monument and the need to prevent the Bukhari family from using it as their residence.
The petitions also sought that the Delhi Waqf Board be directed to take over the affairs of the Jama Masjid and appropriate guidelines be framed for the appointment of imams.
Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court
Professional Profile
Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express.
Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare).
Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others.
She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020.
With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest legal battles:
High-Profile Case Coverage
She has extensively covered the various legal battles - including for compensation under the aegis of North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission - pertaining to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, as well as 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
She has also led coverage at the intersection of technology and governance, and its impact on the citizenry, from, and beyond courtrooms — such as the government’s stakeholder consultations for framing AI-Deepfake policy.
Signature Style
Sohini is recognized for her sustained reporting from courtrooms and beyond. She specialises in breaking down dense legal arguments to make legalese accessible for readers. Her transition from Gujarat to Delhi has seen her expand her coverage on regulatory, corporate and intellectual property law, while maintaining a strong commitment to human rights and lacuna in the criminal justice system.
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