High Court deprives Imam’s function of official halo
22 Nov 2014 11:45 PM GMT
A division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said the anointment ceremony has no legal position, as informed by the Centre and the Delhi Waqf Board, so it can’t stay the ceremony. The bench made their observation after taking into account the contentions of the Centre, Delhi Wakf Board and petitioners, who have challenged the ceremony. The court added that since it did not have official sanctity there was no need to stay the function.
‘The anointment ceremony (Dastarbandi) scheduled for Saturday, even if not stayed, would not amount to anointment/appointment of the said son of Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari as the Naib Imam of the Jama Masjid. We, therefore, do not feel any need to pass any ad-interim order restraining the same,’ the bench said.
‘We clarify that the ceremony so held shall be subject to further orders in this petition and shall not vest/ create any rights or special equities in favour of any person,’ the court said.
It also issued notice and sought responses of the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi government, DDA, MCD, city police, Wakf Board, CBI as well as Bukhari by the next date of hearing on 28 January, 2015.
‘The anointment ceremony (Dastarbandi) scheduled for Saturday, even if not stayed, would not amount to anointment/appointment of the said son of Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari as the Naib Imam of the Jama Masjid. We, therefore, do not feel any need to pass any ad-interim order restraining the same,’ the bench said.
‘We clarify that the ceremony so held shall be subject to further orders in this petition and shall not vest/ create any rights or special equities in favour of any person,’ the court said.
It also issued notice and sought responses of the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi government, DDA, MCD, city police, Wakf Board, CBI as well as Bukhari by the next date of hearing on 28 January, 2015.
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