The Centre on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that no immediate demolition action would be taken against the Race Course mosque near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence until the next hearing on October 29.
Justice Anish Dayal was hearing a petition filed by a worshipper seeking protection against the mosque’s demolition, restoration of unrestricted access for worshippers and directions to the Delhi Waqf Board to discharge its statutory obligations.
The petitioner’s counsel, Sufyan Siddiqui, told the court that an official had allegedly asked the mosque’s imam to vacate the premises within three to four days, warning that the structure would be demolished. However, he clarified that no formal demolition notice had been issued.
Representing the Union government, counsel Ashish Dixit said the mosque’s electricity and water connections had been disconnected to prevent safety risks to people accessing the structure while demolition work was underway in the surrounding area.
The court sought a formal response from the Land and Development Office under the Union housing and urban affairs ministry and the Delhi Waqf Board. The Centre sought time to obtain instructions on the matter.
The petitioner claimed that the mosque was notified as a Waqf property in the Delhi government’s Gazette in 1977 and was accorded Grade-II heritage status under a 2009 notification. The counsel argued that the structure could not be demolished without following the applicable legal procedures.
During the hearing, Justice Dayal asked the petitioner to explain the legal protection claimed for the mosque, particularly in light of earlier court proceedings concerning a broader demolition and clearance drive in the area.
The court observed that structures falling within an area ordered to be cleared would also have to be removed unless they enjoyed specific legal protection.
The matter will be heard next on October 29.
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