The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to allow worshippers access to the Race Course mosque, even as the Centre assured no coercive action will be taken against the religious structure for the time being.
Justice Anish Dayal, while hearing a petition to protect the mosque situated on a Lutyens’ Delhi land parcel that was recently taken over by the Centre for “public purpose”, noted the ongoing demolition work around the structure and said, “If somebody gets injured, who is going to pay compensation?”
Union Government standing counsel Ashish Dixit submitted that the authorities will decide a representation by the Delhi Waqf Board on the issue within four weeks and no coercive action would be taken in the meantime. In response to the petitioner’s request to permit ingress and egress to the mosque, Dixit said such access would not be safe at this stage due to the ongoing demolition activity around it. “Let it go. Let them decide. It is a fair submission.
We can’t force them to give access for prayers,” the court told the petitioner’s lawyer.
The court asked the authorities to file a status report with respect to the demolition activities in the area. Dixit said at present, worshippers are not permitted access to a temple on the site as well. Syed Ahmed Saud has sought directions from the court to protect the Race Course mosque -- a notified Waqf property since 1977 located in the precincts of Jaipur Polo Ground — from demolition, as well as restoration of entry to the mosque.
The Centre took over the Jaipur Polo Ground in June and the adjoining Delhi Race Club in August.