India, Nov. 4 -- New Delhi

The central government has informed the Delhi High Court that the century-old Qadeemi Masjid, situated on the premises of Krishi Bhawan, will be removed as it falls within the earmarked Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings project site and retaining the mosque would be impermissible and incompatible with the secular character of government property.

In a status report filed on October 27 by the Union housing ministry's standing counsel Nishant Gautam, it stated that the Central Vista Redevelopment Master Plan envisages the redevelopment and reconstruction of the CCS buildings, a project of paramount national importance.

It submitted that the two proposed buildings are secular public premises meant exclu...