The imam of Delhi’s historic Race Course Mosque has alleged that authorities have issued a six-day notice asking him to vacate the premises, raising concerns over the future of the place of worship near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence.
Imam Mohammed Haroon said the Land and Development Office (L&DO) had disconnected the mosque’s electricity and water supplies and closed its gates, making it difficult for worshippers to enter the premises and offer namaz.
Haroon, who said he has been associated with the mosque for nearly 40 years, alleged in a video circulated on social media that the restrictions had disrupted access to the mosque. He also accused the Delhi Waqf Board of failing to provide meaningful assistance despite repeated requests.
According to media reports, the L&DO considers the mosque to be on government land and has declared the premises unauthorised. The mosque is listed among heritage properties on the New Delhi Municipal Council’s (NDMC) website, although the legal dispute over its status remains unresolved.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Seeks Kiren Rijiju’s Intervention
A delegation of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, led by its General Secretary, Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi, met Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and submitted a memorandum seeking urgent intervention to protect the mosque and an adjoining graveyard behind Safdarjung Tomb.
The memorandum, submitted on behalf of Jamiat president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, said the mosque appears at serial number 22 on the NDMC’s heritage list and at serial number 18 in the 1977 Delhi Gazette.
The organisation urged the minister to seek detailed reports from the concerned authorities and ensure that no demolition takes place until the legal dispute is resolved.
According to media reports, Rijiju heard the delegation’s concerns and assured it that he would make “every possible effort” in the matter.
Imam Accuses Waqf Board of Inaction
Haroon alleged that he had been raising the issue with the Delhi Waqf Board for around six months but had received no effective assistance.
He claimed the board had written to the NDMC regarding the disconnection of the mosque’s water and electricity supplies but had not taken further steps to challenge the action in court.
The imam also referred to a survey conducted in 2021, claiming that the mosque had not been identified as an unauthorised structure or an encroachment. This claim has not been independently verified.
Haroon appealed to the public to help protect the mosque, saying worshippers were facing difficulties because of the restrictions on access and the disconnection of essential services.
Owaisi, Amanatullah Khan Raise Concerns
AIMIM president and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi urged Rijiju to intervene, arguing that the mosque’s reported heritage and Waqf status required urgent attention.
Owaisi said the mosque had been listed as a Waqf property since 1977 and criticised the lack of legal action by the Delhi Waqf Board. He also pointed to the board’s reported lack of a constituted governing body since 2023, while questioning why the issue had not been addressed by its officials.
Aam Aadmi Party leader and Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan also raised concerns over the reported eviction notice. Khan said the mosque predated Independence and was included on the NDMC’s heritage list.
“The mosque predates Independence and is also on the NDMC’s heritage list. Tomorrow, I myself will go there,” Khan said in a video.
The dispute comes amid other eviction proceedings in the Race Course Road area. Media reports said the Delhi High Court recently allowed civic authorities to proceed with the relocation of slum residents from the area, with resettlement planned at Savda Ghevra.
