Days after the controversial demolition of the centuries-old Masjid Akhoondji in Mehrauli by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi High Court has intervened, directing the DDA to maintain the status quo on the land. The 700-year-old mosque, along with a madrasa, was bulldozed by the DDA as part of a demolition drive to remove illegal structures in the Sanjay Van area, a reserved forest in Delhi.
The court’s decision to maintain the status quo until February 12 follows an urgent application filed by the managing committee of the Delhi Waqf Board. The petitioner’s counsel, advocate Sham Khwaja, highlighted that the demolition took place without prior notice or adherence to a High Court order requiring demarcation before any such action.
According to reports, the DDA carried out the demolition on January 30, citing the removal of illegal structures approved by the Religious Committee. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of intimation or legal notice to the mosque’s managing committee before the demolition.
The historical significance of Masjid Akhoondji is underscored by its inclusion in an official account by an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officer in a 1922 publication. The mosque, a symbol of cultural heritage, is now at the center of a legal battle to preserve its remnants and uphold its historical value.
The caretakers of the mosque revealed that the site also served as a madrasa, accommodating 22 students enrolled in an Islamic boarding school. The demolition, carried out without allowing the removal of belongings or religious artifacts, has sparked outrage and allegations of desecration of graves within the mosque compound.
Mohammad Zaffar, a member of the mosque’s managing committee, expressed distress over the destruction of graves and the removal of rubble, preventing any trace of the historical site. Zaffar emphasized that revered figures and ancestors were buried on the grounds, further heightening the cultural and emotional significance of the demolished mosque.
Since the demolition, heavy police presence has surrounded the site, barricading roads and restricting access. The legal proceedings initiated by the Delhi Waqf Board underscore the importance of preserving historical and religious sites, ensuring that proper procedures are followed before undertaking actions that could erase centuries-old heritage.
The Delhi High Court’s directive for maintaining the status quo signifies a judicial response to the controversy, providing an opportunity for a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the demolition. As the legal proceedings unfold, the fate of Masjid Akhoondji remains uncertain, raising broader questions about the protection of cultural and religious heritage in the face of development initiatives.
