The Union government has submitted a status report to the Delhi High Court declaring that the century-old Qadeemi Masjid, situated within the Krishi Bhawan complex in New Delhi, must be removed to facilitate the ongoing Central Vista redevelopment project. The submission, filed by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, marks a significant development in the ongoing legal dispute regarding the future of the religious site.
Defending the planned removal, the government asserted that the presence of a permanent religious structure within a central government office complex is fundamentally "impermissible and incompatible with the secular character of Government property." The report further contended that public land located within a central administrative zone should not be encumbered by any permanent religious reservations, suggesting that such structures conflict with the approved Central Vista master plan.
The government's legal stance emphasizes the "paramount national importance" of the redevelopment of the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) Buildings 4 and 5, which are slated to replace the existing structures at Krishi Bhawan and the adjoining Shastri Bhawan. According to the Centre, the land on which the mosque stands is owned by the government, and the caretaking committee had only been granted "permissive possession" under an agreement originally executed in 1940.
Addressing arguments regarding the right to religious freedom under Article 25 of the Constitution, the government maintained that there is no fundamental right to insist on offering prayers at a specific location on state-owned land held under a permissive arrangement. As a potential alternative for those affected, officials pointed to the Shahi Masjid Zabta Ganj, located near India Gate, which they noted is within a two-kilometre radius of the current site and could serve as an alternative prayer facility.
The matter reached the High Court in September after the mosque's caretaking committee sought protection against the proposed demolition. While the committee has reportedly indicated it does not oppose the broader redevelopment efforts, it has petitioned the court for either the retention of the mosque or the provision of a reasonable alternative space. The site has historically served government employees working at Krishi Bhawan and surrounding offices for several decades.
The legal history of the site dates back to earlier concerns regarding the Central Vista project's impact on religious properties. In December 2021, when the Delhi Waqf Board sought protection for various mosques, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had provided assurances to the court that no action was being taken against those properties at that time.
During the recent proceedings, Justice Anish Dayal questioned whether there were established guidelines or rules specifically prohibiting prayer facilities or religious structures within government office complexes. The court also sought further clarity from the government regarding its policy on providing alternative spaces for the observance of different faiths in such administrative zones.
The High Court has now scheduled the next hearing for November 23, granting the mosque’s committee time to review and respond to the government’s submissions. The court's decision in this matter is expected to set a precedent for how religious sites located within government-owned administrative complexes are managed during major national redevelopment initiatives.
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