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Seeks Centre's Response on Plea to Retain Qadeemi Masjid at Krishi Bhavan
Court Issues Amid Central Vista Redevelopment; Petitioners Stress No Opposition to Project
The on issued to the on a petition seeking the retention of the Qadeemi Masjid, located within the Krishi Bhavan compound, during the ongoing Central Vista Redevelopment Project. Justice Anish Dayal directed the , the , and the to file their responses within four weeks, with the matter slated for further hearing on .
A Century-Old Place of Worship Faces Redevelopment
The Qadeemi Masjid, described by its caretaking committee as a structure of considerable antiquity predating the government complex, has served as a prayer facility for Muslim employees working in Krishi Bhavan, Shastri Bhavan, and surrounding government offices for several decades. The notified the property as Waqf property in , recording its historical significance. The petitioners, represented by , acknowledged that the land beneath the mosque belongs to the government but expressed concern over the ongoing redevelopment, which proposes dismantling the existing complex.
Petitioners Narrowly Frame Their Plea
Senior Advocate Khurshid made clear that the petitioners were not seeking to stall or delay the Central Vista Redevelopment Project or the construction of the Common Secretariat Buildings. “Paragraph 26 of the present specifically states that they have no objection to the Central Vista Redevelopment Project and do not any seek any suspension or delay in the construction of the Common Secretariat Buildings,” the court recorded. The petition is confined solely to the treatment of the Qadeemi Masjid and the consequences of its possible dismantling on established users.
The petitioners sought three : first, a direction restraining authorities from demolishing or disturbing the mosque without fair and reasoned consideration of its retention; second, a direction to consider retaining the mosque at its existing location; and third, in the alternative, the provision of a reasonable, proximate, and adequate alternative prayer facility if retention is genuinely unavoidable.
Invoking the Right to Religious Freedom
Senior Advocate Khurshid contended that the petitioners were seeking a reasonable and proximate arrangement ensuring continuity of the prayer facility, invoking the protection of freedom of religion under . He argued that the mosque’s existence predates the construction of Krishi Bhavan and Shastri Bhavan in the 1950s and 1960s, and that the structure has been continuously used by government employees for prayers.
Court’s Observations and Next Steps
Justice Anish Dayal took note of the petitioners’ submissions and issued to the respondents. , appearing for the , stated that he would take instructions and file a response. The court directed that a response or be filed within four weeks, with an advance copy to the petitioner’s counsel.
The court’s order emphasized that the petition does not seek to impede the redevelopment project, but rather focuses on the treatment of the Qadeemi Masjid and its impact on the established users. The matter will be heard next on , 2026, when the respondents are expected to present their stance.
Key Observations from the Judgment
The court recorded that “the petitioners are conscious that the land underneath is a government property,” but their immediate apprehension arises from the ongoing redevelopment. The judgment also noted the petitioners’ reliance on Article 25 and the historical documentation of the mosque’s antiquity, including its recognition by the in .
The case highlights the balance between large-scale government redevelopment projects and the protection of long-standing religious practices, with the High Court now awaiting the Centre’s formal response on the issue.
