The court also directed installation of CCTV cameras at the entry, exit and stairs of each floor of the complex.
The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed reopening of certain areas of Nizamuddin Markaz, where the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has been closed since then, to allow devotees to offer prayers during the month. to be enabled. Of Ramadan
Justice Jasmeet Singh, who was hearing a plea by the Delhi Waqf Board seeking a direction to open the mosque for the holy month, clarified that no “Tablighi activities” and lectures can take place in the premises and only prayers can be held. can.
The court ordered, “It is directed that prayers and religious prayers be allowed on the ground floor and four floors at Masjid Churi Wali for Ramzan. This arrangement is only for one month of Ramzan ending with Eid ul Fitr.” is for,” the court ordered. ,
“Religious prayer and namaz (permission) but Tablighi activities are not allowed. Let’s not dilute it. There will be no lectures. Prayers can be offered. But no lectures,” the court said. It added that the immediate permission was in continuation of the March 16 order which had imposed various conditions for the reopening of the premises on the occasion of Shab-e-Bharat.
The court directed installation of CCTV cameras at the entry, exit and stairs of each floor of the complex and said that it would be the responsibility of the Markaz management to ensure that the cameras are fully functional during the period of Ramzan. On the occasion of Shab-e-Bharat, the court removed the 100-person limit on a single floor and said it has been agreed that the management of the mosque will ensure that COVID-19 protocols and social distancing are followed while allowing devotees. Will be followed. To enter the mosque to offer prayers.
Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing for Delhi Police and the central government, opposed the permission to offer prayers on the fourth floor and said that the mosque is confined to the ground floor only which has arisen from the site plan. “If there are more floors, there’s more space… If there’s a reason (as opposed to a fourth-floor opening), let us know. The more surface area you have, the better. More area is always favorable, The court remarked.
The judge said that as per the joint inspection report, the fourth floor was part of the mosque area and the present observations are sole first face and subject to decision. The central government’s counsel also said that no “Tablighi activities” and lectures cannot be allowed in the Markaz and only prayers are allowed.
Senior advocate Sanjay Ghosh on behalf of the petitioner and senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the management of Markaz, urged the court to allow the prayers to be offered on the fourth floor as well. The application for reopening of Markaz was filed in the board’s 2021 plea seeking reopening of the premises on the ground that even after the Unlock-1 guidelines, religious places outside containment zones should be opened. Permission was granted, the Markaz – which includes the Masjid Churi Wali, Madrasa Kashif-ul-Uloom, and the attached hostel – is locked.
The High Court had earlier asked the petitioner through advocate Wakih Shafiq to file an application before the SHO of Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station, seeking permission to open the other three floors of Nizamuddin Markaz so that devotees can offer prayers during the two occasions. Can pay The central government in its affidavit has opposed the complete reopening of Nizamuddin Markaz and said that only certain people can be allowed to offer prayers on certain religious occasions.
Delhi Waqf Board’s counsel has argued that the mosque, which is under lockdown by the Delhi Police, should be opened as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has now removed all restrictions that were imposed due to the pandemic. Several FIRs were registered under various provisions of Epidemic Diseases Act, Disaster Management Act, Foreigners Act and Penal Code in relation to the Tablighi Jamaat event held at Nizamuddin Markaz and subsequent stay of foreigners during the COVID-19 lockdown. in 2020.
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