By Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI: Even as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is yet to allot an alternate plot of land as per directions of the Delhi High Court, the DDA demolished the 50-year-old Faizyab Masjid in Saraikale Khan locality in East Nizamuddin in wee hours of Saturday. DDA is responsible for land management in the national capital.
The DDA’s action has left the Muslims of the area in a very difficult situation, with no place to perform five times regular and weekly Friday congregation prayers. (Though a Special Leave Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order to demolish the religious property, DDA demolished the mosque and madrasa before the LPA was heard in the apex court. This has left the purpose of the LPA meaningless).
The mosque’s caretaker, Deen Mohammad, had sought relief from the Delhi High Court against the demolition. While ordering the DDA to allot an alternate plot of land equal in size to the mosque and madrasa, the court also allowed the demolition of the mosque and madrassa.
While the court allowed demolition within a week, it asked the DDA to find an alternate land for the mosque within four weeks month.
The court order is also silent as to who will bear the cost of construction of the mosque and madrasa: DDA or the mosque management committee? The question arises because the mosque and madrasa were not encroachments but on privately owned land.
The site of demolished Faizyab masjid and madrasa.
The mosque was constructed in 1972 on the land donated by Deen Mohammed’s father and was then registered with the Delhi Waqf Board.
Deen Mohammed felt frustrated by the demolition, stating that the DDA had not explained to the court the purpose for which it required the mosque land.
The mosque was under the control of the local Tablighi Jamaat functionaries. The mosque and madrasa land is valued at Rs. 15-20 crores approximately.
As the DDA has yet not allotted the land, there is anxiety among the local Muslims as to when the DDA will allot the land and at which place. The court has not mentioned the location where the alternate land be allotted.
READ ALSO : Delhi High Court asks DDA to allot alternate land for Faizyab Masjid and Madrasa in East Nizamuddin
The mosque and madrasa were razed to the ground in the wee hours of Saturday last and debris was removed from the site within a few hours of the demolition. Now, there is no evidence of whether any building existed there.
The problem for the mosque began due to the ill-advised decision of Deen Mohammed. Deen Mohammad had approached the Delhi High Court in March-April 2024 to prevent the demolition by the DDA, securing interim protection.
But Deen Mohammad, later on, withdrew his petition on June 12 enabling the vacation judge to issue an order for the premises to be vacated.
This decision prompted local community members to file a Letter Patent Appeal (LPA) seeking an alternate plot of land for religious purposes.
On July 19, the Delhi High Court ordered the DDA to allocate an alternate plot for the mosque and madrasa within four weeks, while giving the mosque and madrasa one week to vacate the premises for demolition by the DDA.
This order was given by a two-judge bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela by overruling a prior decision by Justice Amit Sharma of the single-judge vacation bench.
Justice Sharma had on June 12 dismissed the mosque committee’s plea against the demolition and granted one month for vacating the premises.
The next hearing in the high court is scheduled on September 3 to review progress in locating the alternate site and any further developments.
