The Delhi High Court has allowed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) additional time to conduct a detailed inspection of Jama Masjid and determine its status as a protected monument. The court’s decision came during a hearing on December 11, following a request from the ASI for more time to complete their assessment.
Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma are overseeing the case, which stems from public interest litigations (PILs) filed by Suhail Ahmed Khan and Ajay Gautam in 2014. These PILs challenge the exclusion of Jama Masjid from the list of protected monuments under ASI’s purview and question the hereditary title of “Shahi Imam” used by the mosque’s Imam, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari.
In a previous court session on October 23, the bench had directed the ASI, in collaboration with the Waqf board representatives, to inspect the mosque and its surroundings and to produce a sketch and a report detailing the current uses of the premises. However, at the latest hearing, senior advocate Anil Soni, representing the ASI, requested additional time to finalize the report, which the court granted.
The court has now scheduled the next hearing for January 29, 2025, and expects the ASI to submit its report a week in advance. Additionally, the court has allowed a counsel representing the petitioners to be present during the ASI’s inspection to ensure transparency.
The implications of declaring Jama Masjid a protected monument are significant, as outlined in the ASI’s latest affidavit. Such a designation would introduce specific regulations and restrictions in the area surrounding the monument, impacting the mosque’s administration and activities. The ASI also noted that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had previously assured the Shahi Imam that the mosque would not be declared a protected monument, a commitment that has influenced the ASI’s cautious approach to any change in status.
