Mosque incompatible with govt property’s secular character: Centre

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government told the Delhi High Court that the 100-year-old mosque, located in a government office complex in the national capital, needs to be demolished as it is “incompatible” with the “secular character” of the property.

The Qadeemi Masjid is located in the open courtyard of the Krishi Bhawan complex, headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

The Centre’s status report filed through the Land and Development Office (L&DO) contends that the mosque is built on government land and that its committee was given only permissive or temporary possession.

The government said the complex was designated solely for administrative, government, or public service events. The response marked the first admission by the central government that the mosque was scheduled for removal under the Central Vista project.

The Central Vista project began in 2019, intending to redevelop a 3.2-kilometre stretch of central Delhi to make way for new Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings. As of now, the new Parliament building, the Vice President’s residence, the Central Secretariat, and the new Prime Minister’s Office have been completed. The Krishi Bhawan is slated for demolition as part of the project.

‘Impermissible and incompatible’

The government’s response described the mosque’s removal as a necessary measure, adding that retaining any part of the religious building would be inconsistent with the project’s final plan.

The construction is of paramount national importance, and, for its execution, the mosque must be removed, the report said. It stated that the Krishi Bhawan and the Central Secretariat complex are public secular premises exclusively dedicated to public functions.

“The establishment or retention of a permanent religious structure, or a demand for one, within the confines of a central government office complex is impermissible and incompatible with the secular character of government property.”

“That the public land situated within a central administrative zone cannot be encumbered by any permanent religious reservation,” the report read.

‘No fundamental rights being violated’

Asserting that no fundamental rights are being infringed, the government’s report argued that individuals cannot claim a right to worship at a specific site or on public land occupied through a temporary permission.

It pointed out that Shahi Masjid Zabta Ganj, located in the two-kilometre radius of Krishi Bhawan near India Gate, is still operating.

The status report concluded that, as the landowner, the Centre cannot be forced to allocate alternative space for the mosque within Krishi Bhawan or the Central Secretariat complex.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.