November 18, 2017:

Govt is asked to file reply before the next date of hearing — February 27 next year.

Delhi High Court has sought response of Centre on a plea seeking to restrain Waqf board from using title ‘Shahi Imam’ for the Jama Masjid’s Imam Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari.

Delhi HC Bench comprising of the Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar issued a notice to the Delhi Waqf Board on the plea seeking to stop the practice of referring to Imams of other mosques here as ‘Shahi’.

Bench has directed authorities to file their reply before next date of hearing February 27,2018.

The Application for the removal of the title ‘Shahi Imam’ was moved in pending PIL’s that have sought directions to the Authorities to declare the historic Mughal-era Jama Masjid situated in Delhi a protected monument and remove all encroachments in and around it.

Petitioner Ajay Gautam sought to restrain Syed Ahmed Bukhari and the other persons from using title of ‘Shahi Imam’, working under the control and supervision of Delhi Wakf Board for any purpose or business.

He states ij his application that the ‘Shahis’ used to be appointed during Mughal period. Shahi Imam means an officer appointed by Shah (emperor). Now, Delhi Waqf Board is neither appointing a Shahi Imam nor maintaining any such record”.

Petition states that Article 18 of Constitution prevents State from conferring any title to its citizens except the military and academic distinction.

Centre  during the brief hearing of the PIL’s, sought more time to place before Court documents regarding its decision that Jama Masjid should not be declared a protected monument.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had in August,2015 submitted before HC that Former PM Manmohan Singh had assured the Shahi Imam that Jama Masjid would not be declared as a protected monument.

ASI had further submitted that as Jama Masjid was not a centrally protected monument, it does not fall within purview of ASI.

 

Source - ptinews.com