Delhi High Court seeks Centre's reply on Race Course mosque protection plea

The Delhi High Court asked the Centre to clarify protection and access for the Race Course mosque. The case tests heritage and religious safeguards amid security-driven clearances nearby.Stock photo used for illustrationNewdelhi,Oct 27, 2026 18:16 ISTThe Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's response to a worshipper's petition seeking protection of the Race Course mosque at the Jaipur Polo Ground from demolition, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The petition, filed by Syed Ahmed Saud, also sought the restoration of access to the mosque. Justice Anish Dayal issued a notice and asked the Central government's counsel to return with instructions on Thursday.According to PTI, Centre's standing counsel Ashish Dixit told the court that the compound houses a mosque and a temple, and that no demolition action was being taken at present.Dixit said the authorities had earlier disconnected electricity and water supply to the mosque to prevent any risk to the public during the demolition of other structures on the premises. He said the mosque stands on the same parcel of land as three jhuggi clusters near the Prime Minister's residence — Bhai Ram Camp, Masjid Camp and DID Colony. The Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court had earlier cleared the demolition of these clusters.The Delhi Waqf Board's counsel said it had submitted a representation to the Land and Development Office and other authorities over the issue. Dixit said the authorities would decide on the representations made by the Waqf Board and the petitioner. The petitioner's counsel, advocate M Sufian Siddiqui, urged the court to allow access to the mosque in the meantime.When the court asked how the petitioner was seeking protection for the mosque amid a “larger demolition in the area”, Siddiqui said that the mosque was a Grade II protected structure and any change affecting its existence required the approval of the Heritage and Conservation Committee.The Centre took over the Jaipur Polo Ground in June and the adjoining Delhi Race Club in August.Siddiqui said the mosque had been a notified Waqf property since 1977, but the Delhi Waqf Board had failed to take steps to ensure continued access to it.The petitioner alleged that the authorities had “brazenly and wholly arbitrarily” stopped him from offering namaz at the mosque without any notice or order, in violation of Articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution.He also argued that the mosque was not part of the litigation related to the demolition of the three jhuggi clusters.The Centre had evicted the residents on the grounds that the clusters were in a protected zone and immediately next to an operational Air Force station. It said the decision to remove unauthorised structures in the area was taken to secure defence infrastructure and serve other important public and security purposes.The petition alleged: “On 21.10.2026, the petitioner, along with his friends, personally visited the subject masjid with the intention of offering namaz. However, upon reaching the recently installed iron gates at the entrance to the Race Course Compound, they were categorically denied entry by the security personnel stationed there.”It said the denial of access, along with the threatened demolition, required examination in view of the mosque's legal protection.“While the petitioner does not suggest that every restriction upon access constitutes conversion within the meaning of the Act, the State cannot disregard the historical religious character of the subject masjid when contemplating measures capable of permanently affecting its existence or religious identity,” the plea added.The court has sought the Centre's instructions on the mosque's protection and access to it, while the government has said that no demolition action is currently being taken against the mosque.- Ends