The Delhi high court on Monday ordered the DDA to allow ten devotees to offer namaz for the next two months at the site of a mosque demolished last week.
“DDA will complete the construction of boundary wall (at the site where the illegal mosque was demolished) and leave a gate of 2.5 feet to allow 10 persons of the
community, whose names would be furnished to the DDA and the police, to offer namaz for a period of two months...,” Justice G.S. Sistani said, adding that the devotees must vacate the space soon after the prayers.
“In this period, the DDA or the petitioner will not press for further application. There is to be no obstruction in the boundary wall construction, neither by any local politicians or local people over there,” said the court.
Taking into records the submissions made by the lawyers representing Noor Charitable Society, which used to run the illegal mosque and the Delhi Wakf Board, the court asked them that its order would be respected.
“No one should raise communal issues or do communal division. This order was passed in public interest at large. Therefore, no political interference is allowed,” added the court.
The court, however, posted the matter for March 21, for the decision on the DDA’s plea to drop contempt proceedings against it for the delay in carrying out its orders on demolition of the mosque built on public land.
The court was hearing the application filed by residents of a Jangpura seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against chief minister Sheila Dikshit, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari and others for allegedly instigating people to offer prayers at the site of the razed illegal mosque.
The court also took serious note of the incident of trespassing at the plot which has recently been taken over by the DDA.
The counsel for Noor Charitable Society’ and the Delhi Wakf Board, however, sought adjournment for exploring the possibilities of an amicable solution and assured that the rule of law would prevail.