HC forbids assembly of more 10 people at razed mosque

The Delhi High Court today dismissed a plea to allow more than 10 people to offer prayers at the site of a demolished mosque, which was built illegally on an encroached piece of land in a posh south Delhi area.

The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea to allow more than 10 people to offer prayers at the site of a demolished mosque, which was built illegally on an encroached piece of land in a posh south Delhi area.

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Justice G S Sistani dismissed the plea made by Noor Charitable Society, which had built the mosque and had been managing it.

"The land does not belong to you. I have ordered a status quo for a period of two months to facilitate the resolution of the issue. The prayer seeking waiver on the number of 'namajis' cannot be allowed at this stage," said Justice Sistani, dismissing the society's plea to the court.

The court had on January 17 allowed 10 people to offer prayers every Friday for the next ten months.

However, refusing the society's claim over the public land, the court had asked the Delhi Development Authority, which had earlier razed the mosque on court orders, to reclaim the land and construct a boundary wall around it. It had also allowed 10 members of the community to offer prayers for two months there to facilitate a solution.