A petition opposing the demolition of a mosque at Y-Block Mangolpuri in New Delhi has been filed with the Supreme Court of India. On Monday, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde brought the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, who stated that a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and R Mahadevan would hear the case. Subsequently, the court decided to address the issue on August 1 without issuing a formal notice.
The petition highlights that the ‘Save India Foundation’ had initially filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, claiming the mosque was a recent encroachment. The High Court had then requested a status report, which indicated an impending demolition set for July 30. In response, an oral plea was made before the High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the High Court ruled that the parties, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), could proceed with legal actions, stating that the ongoing writ petition should not obstruct lawful proceedings.
The petitioner contends that the High Court’s interim order implicitly authorises the planned demolition. Additionally, they argue that the demolition of a religious place of worship should be reviewed by a Religious Committee.
The petitioner is seeking interim relief from the Supreme Court, specifically:
- A stay on the High Court’s interim order dated July 29, 2024.
- An order preventing the demolition of the mosque until the current petition is resolved.
The Supreme Court will take up the matter on August 1.
