In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court on Monday rejected the Shahi Idgah Managing Committee’s plea opposing the installation of a statue of the Maharani of Jhansi at a park near the Shahi Idgah in Sadar Bazar. The committee had argued that the entire area within the walls of the Idgah belonged to them, including the park.
The court’s decision comes after a prior order that had halted the statue’s installation while the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was tasked with maintaining the park. However, the committee’s assertion that the entire property within the Idgah walls was theirs was ultimately dismissed.
Justice Dharmesh Sharma emphasized that records, including those from the Delhi Waqf Board (DWB), contradicted the committee’s claim. The court referenced an affidavit from the DWB, which outlined that only the Shahi Idgah structure itself fell under their ownership, based on legal documents dating back to the 1970s.
The court further noted the results of a joint inspection conducted by the DDA, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and DWB, which confirmed the land in question belongs to the DDA, not the Idgah. This inspection validated the DDA’s right to allocate land for public use, including the installation of the statue.
Justice Sharma clarified that the committee’s right to offer prayers or perform religious activities remained unaffected by the park’s use. The court concluded that the petition lacked merit and dismissed it, affirming the DDA’s authority over the park area.
With this ruling, the path for the installation of the statue by the MCD has been cleared.
