The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Delhi High Court on Friday declined an application that sought authorization for conducting prayers on the occasion of Shab E Barat at the Akhunji Mosque location in Mehrauli. This development follows the mosque’s demolition by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on January 30, with the site now under DDA control.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav made the decision to dismiss the petition after examining the arguments presented by all involved parties. The court highlighted that the plea, which demanded unrestricted access to the mosque’s site and adjoining graveyard for night-long prayers and visiting the graves of ancestors, was filed too late, just before the event scheduled to start thirty minutes before sunset on February 25, 2024, and conclude thirty minutes after sunrise on February 26.
The court noted the petitioner’s delayed approach, stating that they should have sought permission earlier, considering the known date of the festival. The Delhi High Court remarked that the application’s urgent nature was undermined by the lack of time provided to file a formal response.
The Delhi Waqf Board’s Management Committee initiated the petition. The case regarding the mosque’s demolition remains pending in the High Court and is scheduled for a hearing on March 7, 2024. The court, acknowledging that the DDA currently possesses the site and considering the pending case, decided not to issue any directives at this juncture, leading to the dismissal of the plea.
During the hearing, the historical significance of the mosque, which dates back to the Delhi Sultanate period approximately 600-700 years ago, was highlighted. Advocate Shams Khwaja, representing the Management Committee, argued for the community’s long-standing tradition of celebrating Shab E Barat at the site. The counsel also mentioned the importance of the festival for honoring ancestors buried at the now-demolished graveyard.
The Delhi High Court had previously ordered a status quo at the site following DDA’s actions on February 5.