New Delhi, 27 October (H.S.): The Central Government on Tuesday gave an oral assurance to the Delhi High Court that no demolition would be carried out at Race Course Masjid until the next hearing in the matter on October 29.

The Bench of Justice Anish Dayal, while scheduling the next hearing for October 29, sought a response from the Centre through the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and the Delhi Waqf Board.

The petition was filed by worshipper Syed Ahmed Saud, who sought protection for the mosque against possible demolition and the restoration of unhindered access for worshippers. The mosque is situated within the Race Course Club complex, near the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, which occupies an area of approximately 53 acres.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui submitted that the mosque faced the threat of demolition. He also told the court that its electricity and water supplies had been disconnected on October 7.

Representing the Centre, advocate Ashish Dixit explained that the disconnection had been carried out as a security precaution in view of the ongoing demolition work in the Race Course area.

The petitioner and Muslim organisations have maintained that the mosque was notified as a Waqf property in the Delhi Gazette in 1977 and is listed as a Grade-II heritage structure in the New Delhi Municipal Council’s (NDMC) heritage register. They contend that the site cannot be altered without specific permission from the competent heritage committee.

During the hearing, Dixit also informed the court that a temple was situated within the same premises. He said he would seek instructions on the matter before the next hearing.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar