Mosque inside Krishi Bhawan cannot be retained: Central Government argues in Delhi High Court

According to Capital Kranti's report, the Central Government has clarified before the Delhi High Court that the 100-year-old mosque built inside the Krishi Bhawan complex cannot be retained there. According to the government, establishing or maintaining a religious structure permanently on any government office premises is completely unacceptable. This matter is not consistent with the secular character of government property.

According to Amar Ujala's report, an affidavit has been submitted in this matter by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This affidavit has been given in response to the petition filed by the custodians of the mosque, in which a demand was made to impose a stay on its demolition.

In its argument, the government has stated that the Krishi Bhawan and Central Secretariat complex is a completely secular public complex. These spaces are dedicated exclusively to government, administrative, and public service functions. The Centre has also stated that this mosque located on Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road is established on government land itself. Under an agreement made in November 1940, permission was granted to use it only as a mosque, which does not mean that any kind of legal right or interest has been acquired over that land.

Explaining why it is imperative to remove this mosque, the government stated that the Central Vista Redevelopment Master Plan includes the redevelopment of Common Central Secretariat (CCS) Buildings 4 and 5. This project is extremely crucial for modernizing the infrastructure vital for the country's governance. The Qadeemi Masjid is situated right at the project site, which makes its removal necessary for the proper implementation of this scheme.

Talking about the petitioners' demand and judicial proceedings, the Centre clarified that no fundamental right is being violated in this under Article 25 of the Constitution. The government also informed the court that the 'Shahi Masjid Zabta Ganj' is fully functional at a distance of just two kilometers from Krishi Bhawan. The Qadeemi Masjid is indeed more than 100 years old, which is to be demolished under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project.

Earlier, the petitioners' advocate had stated that they do not want to create any hurdle in the redevelopment plan or stop it. They only want that some facility for prayer should be made available in the new structure, because the Qadeemi Masjid has been used as a place of prayer for government employees for decades.

This affidavit has been filed by the Central Government following the order of Justice Anish Dayal. The next hearing in this entire matter will now be held on November 23. According to reports of The Times of India and Amar Ujala, the government remains firm on its stance that this religious structure built on government property must be removed so that the Central Government's schemes and projects can be completed on time.