The morning of January 8 witnessed a breach of civil order during an anti-encroachment drive near a mosque in Delhi. The residents pelted stones at municipal officials and police teams during the demolition on a land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque at Ramlila Maidan.
Who ordered the demolition drive?
The demolition drive was being carried out in context to the orders received from the Delhi High Court. There is a minimum of five police personnel who were injured in the conflict, and stones were pelted by about 25-30 people. The police took the help of tear gas to get the situation under control. Five accused have been detained so far.
According to NDTV, last November, the Delhi High Court ordered the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Public Works Department to vacate the encroachments on about 39,000 sq ft area at the Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate. The authorities issued an order to vacate the encroachments, including a road, a footpath, a banquet hall, a parking area, and a private diagnostic centre.
Also Read| Delhi on high alert ahead of Republic Day amid possible threat warnings from agencies
Petition claiming Waqf property
The mosque committee filed a petition, conveying that the land is a notified Waqf property. It argued that the property is supervised by the Waqf Act, and only the Waqf Tribunal has jurisdiction to determine such conflicts.
The MCD argued that only 0.195 acres of land on which the mosque stands was leased in 1940, and that it does not cover the adjoining land on which the demolition drive is being undertaken.
The petitioner argued that they have been paying lease rent to the Waqf Board to use the land. They asserted they have no complaint against the removal of encroachments and mentioned that the banquet hall and the clinic have already been closed down. Their only grievance is concerning the graveyard operating on the land.
All structures beyond 0.195 acres of land (housing the mosque) will undergo demolition, the MCD declared last month in view of the November court order. It mentioned that it did not recover any documentary evidence to verify lawful possession of the land by the organising committee of the mosque or the Delhi Waqf Board.
Also Read| Union Budget 2026 to be tabled on Sunday, a first since Vajpayee's NDA rule
On January 7, the municipal officers and workers arrived the site with 30 bulldozers and 50 dump trucks following the order of the demolition drive. There were around 25 to 30 people who pelted stones at the police teams who were present with the officials, mentioned a senior officer. The authorities managed to demolish a dispensary and a banquet hall, but five cops were injured in the clash.
