'Bukhari encroaching land near Jama Masjid'

A petition in the Delhi High Court has alleged that Shahi Imam and his brothers are involved in illegal construction adjacent to 16th century historic mosque Jama Masjid.

Taking notice of the petition, the High Court has issued notices to Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari and his three brothers - Syed Hasan Bhukhari, Syed Yahia Bhukhari and Syed Tarikh Bhukhari. The matter would be next heard on 17 July.

The court asked the Archaelogical Survey of India and other authorities responsible for it to stop disfiguration of the site near the historic monument.

'How is this [illegal construction] is going on just adjacent to the Jama Masjid?' Justice Vipin Sanghi said and also asked the city police, DDA and MCD to respond and act on the petition of Suhail Ahmed Khan, a Delhi resident. 

'Director General of the ASI, Deputy Commissioner of MCD (of the zone concerned) and DCP Central District are directed to look into the matter and stop the alleged construction,' the court said.

The petition by Khan alleged that the Shahi Imam and his three brothers have been raising illegal construction adjacent to a wall of the 16th century historic mosque in the walled city. 

Khan, in his plea, also accused Bhukhari brothers of illegally encroaching sites inside the mosque premises.

'Besides encroachment in the surroundings of the Jama Masjid, the respondent no.1 to 4 (Bhukharis) in connivance with each other has recently started raising constructions just adjacent to the historical international mosque,' the petition said.

The Imam and his brothers have also illegally occupied 'substantial portions of the mosque', it said, adding that the civic bodies and others concerned have failed to take any action against the illegal construction.

The petition said 'the respondents (Bhukharis) are responsible for the encroachment in the surroundings of the Jama Masjid as they themselves allowed such encroachment... it is also learnt that from such encroachment, the respondents are gaining monetary benefit by allowing such encroachments for the purpose of commercial use like parking, temporary pandals for marriages and temporary kiosks.

'The civic bodies ie respondent no.5 to 11 abate such illegal  activities by not only resorting or omitted to take any actions as provided under the local civic laws like Delhi Municipal Act, Delhi Police Act and the IPC.'

Such illegal acts of the Imam and others are not only 'earning disrepute to the nation from all over the world but also hurting religious sentiments of Muslim community,' it said.