Court slams MLA for taking ‘law into his hands’

Delhi High Court on Wednesday slammed legislator Shoaib Iqbal for “taking law into his hands” by building a mosque at a spot where the ruins of a supposedly Mughal-era structure were dug up.

Delhi High Court on Wednesday slammed legislator Shoaib Iqbal for “taking law into his hands” by building a mosque at a spot where the ruins of a supposedly Mughal-era structure were dug up.

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“We are of the view that the issue should not be communalised or politicised. But the legality cannot be sidelined. There is no dispute that a structure has come up and it is on public land. How do you justify it?” a three-judge bench headed by acting Chief Justice AK Sikri asked Kirti Uppal, the lawyer representing Iqbal.

The court extended the stay on any construction at the site near Subhash Park till the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) completed excavation to ascertain if the ruins indeed dated back to the Mughal era.

The bench asked all those involved to respect the assurance they had given to the lieutenant governor during a meeting on Monday. The parties had promised that they would abide by court orders, maintain peace and harmony in the area and leave it to the ASI to settle the dispute.

The ASI informed the court that it had made preparations for the excavation, which it would begin only after the monsoons. It urged the court to issue a direction to all parties “to maintain the sanctity of the area” and ask the police to protect the site to ensure a smooth excavation.

During the hearing, Delhi police counsel Pawan Sharma urged the court to direct Iqbal, who started the construction on the site, not to create any tension.