The Imam of Sunehri Bagh Masjid has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging a public notice from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) that called for the mosque’s removal, citing traffic congestion concerns. The notice has sparked a legal battle over the fate of the mosque located at a key intersection on Sunehri Bagh Road.
Justice Manoj Jain, presiding over the case, has scheduled a hearing for January 8, 2024. During the proceedings, the court questioned the Imam’s standing to file the case, suggesting that the Delhi Waqf Board might be a more appropriate petitioner. Defending his action, the Imam’s counsel stated, “I’m leading a congregation there. It is a functioning mosque. I’m looking out for my congregation.”
The mosque, which has stood for over 150 years, is described in the plea as a significant cultural heritage symbol. The legal challenge seeks not only to overturn the December 24 notice but also to secure assurances from various authorities—including the NDMC, the Heritage Conservation Committee, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs—that the mosque will not be harmed.
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The Imam’s plea highlights a lack of concrete evidence linking the mosque or its congregants directly to the area’s traffic issues. It argues that government buildings nearby, such as Vayu Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and the Udyog Bhawan Metro Station, contribute significantly to local traffic flows, undermining the rationale for targeting the mosque.
