Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
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.
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.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
