Delhi High Court orders status quo on land where 600-year-old mosque was demolished

The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered the Delhi Development Authority to maintain status quo on land where the 600-year-old Akhoondji/Akhunji mosque was demolished..Justice Sachin Datta ordered that the status quo shall remain in force till the next date of hearing on February 12.The Court clarified that the status quo is only with respect to this particular property and it will not preclude the authority from acting against other illegal properties..The Court passed the order on a plea by the Managing Committee of the Delhi Waqf Board..Delhi High Court asks DDA to explain demolition of 600-year-old mosque and madrasa in Mehrauli.Advocate Shams Khwaja appearing for the petitioner told the Court the mosque was demolished without giving any demolition notice and that the structure had stood on the ground for nearly 600-700 years.He contended that the madrasa and the graveyard on the property were also razed and that copies of the Quran were also damaged in the process.Khwaja contended that the demolition was also in violation of the court's existing order which said directed that authorities to first conduct a survey of the land and carry out the fencing in the area in question. DDA Standing Counsel Sanjay Katyal refuted the allegations and said that all the religious books were handled with care and are in the custody of the officials.They will be handed back. Even when DDA demolished some temples, the idols were taken care of, the DDA said.It added that the mosque has been demolished pursuant to the recommendations of the Religious Committee and that it was an encroachment on a forest land..The Court considered the arguments and ordered status quo."In the meantime, it is directed that till the next date of hearing, status quo shall be maintained in respect of land comprising new khasra numbers 115/2, admeasuring 7 bighas and 13 biswas situated in Village Mehrauli, Tehsil Mehrauli, New Delhi. It is made clear that the aforesaid order shall not prevent the DDA/ other civic agencies from taking requisite steps in the adjoining areas/land for the purpose of routine maintenance/restoration/other development works," the Bench ordered. Justice Datta said added that the Court needs to examine the legality of the recommendation of the religious committee regarding demolition of the mosque. The Court that the matter will be considered next on February 12. .According to news reports, the mosque and the Behrul Uloom madrasa in Mehrauli were demolished early morning on January 30 by the DDA.Locals claimed that the mosque was built nearly 600-700 years ago during the Delhi sultanate period.The Delhi Waqf Board has said that the Religious Committee has no jurisdiction to order or approve any demolition. .Advocate Shams Khwaja appeared for the petitioner. DDA was represented through its Standing Counsel Sanjay Katyal along with advocates Chand Chopra, Neha Bhupathiraju and Nihal Singh. .[Read Order]