The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed the use of 5 floors – ground and 4 others – during the month of Ramzan, quashing the police order to enable prayers only on the four floors of the Markaz Nizamuddin Mosque.
While hearing the Delhi Waqf Board’s plea to relax the restrictions on the Markaz, Justice Jasmeet Singh confused the police restrictions on the use of all floors and asked whether, in times of Covid, is it better for devotees to be spread over 5 floors or to limit them to foor? Floor “Is there a reason, tell us?” Justice Singh asked.
Sanjay Ghosh, representative of the Waqf Board, argued that no other religious site has this restriction. The Delhi Police informed the court that the premises were “reserved for inspection” in case property and pending FIRs.
Advocate Rajat Nair, representing the Centre, submitted that only Nichtalai Masjid is as per the web page plan. However, the court docket said the joint inspection document prepared by the Waqf Board and the Markaz management as well as the police clarified that various floors are also part of the mosque.
The police on Thursday told the Waqf Board that the mosque will be allowed to reopen at some point in the month of Ramadan with similar phrases and conditions through the High Court on March 16 for Shab-e-Barat.
Nearly two years after Markaz Nizamuddin was once locked down and barred from public entry for allegedly violating Covid norms, the High Court said devotees, irrespective of their numbers, will be allowed to offer prayers at Masjid Bangli Wali. Flooring of Shab-e-Barat – Ground and three different floors.
For the ocassion of Shab-e-Bharat, the courtroom had eliminated the 100-person limit at one floor and said it has been agreed that the administration of the mosque will make sure that COVID-19 protocols and social distancing will be followed while allowing devotees to enter the mosque to provide namaz.
Advocate Rajat Nair, deputizing for Delhi Police and the central government, opposed the permission to offer prayers on the fourth floor and said the mosque was limited only to the ground floor which is carried over from the web page plan.
“If there are more floors, additional space… if there is any reason (opposing opening the fourth floor), let us know. The more floor area, the higher it is. Further positions are consistently favourable,” the courtroom commented.
The police had earlier also said that less than a hundred people would be recognized on each floor. Last year, only 50 people were accepted to offer prayers at the mosque throughout Shab-e-Barat and Ramadan. Permission was also granted once on the basis of a court order.
The court docket on Friday also directed that a CCTV digital camera be installed at the entrance and exit of the mosque like every staircase and added that it will be the responsibility of the Markaz management to ensure that the cameras remain functional.