Hyderabad: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (October 27) sought the responses of the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and the Delhi Waqf Board on a plea challenging the alleged proposed demolition of the Race Course Masjid. The court said it would hear the matter on October 29.
The central government gave an oral assurance to the court that no demolition activity would be carried out against the mosque until that date.
The latest plea was filed by Syed Ahmed Saud, a worshipper at the mosque, seeking protection against demolition, removal of obstructions to ingress and egress, and redressal of alleged inaction by the Delhi Waqf Board.
The plea was moved after the court, on October 15, dismissed a petition filed by the mosque's imam seeking restoration of electricity and water connections that had been disconnected on October 7.
The mosque is a Waqf-notified Grade-II heritage structure situated beside the Delhi Race Club and adjoining the Delhi Golf Club.
Although the Land and Development Officer has not issued an eviction notice to the mosque, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on October 15 refused to restore its utilities, stating that "demolition work is still going on" in the area. The work involves the demolition of jhuggi structures, and the council cited an element of public harm.