New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- A heritage mosque near the Prime Minister's residence in Lutyens' Delhi has been left without electricity and water after the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) disconnected its supplies without prior notice, prompting the Delhi High Court to question the civic body's action on Friday.
A bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Renu Bhatnagar sought NDMC's response within two weeks on an appeal filed by the mosque's imam, Mohd Haroon, challenging a single judge's October 15 order refusing to direct restoration of the essential services. The matter will be heard in December.
Haroon's counsel, M Sufian Siddiqui, told the court that the mosque was a notified waqf property and that its electricity and water connections had been cut without notice or an opportunity to be heard. He argued that these services were essential to the right to life under Article 21 and could not be withdrawn without following due process.
According to the appeal, NDMC disconnected the supplies to the mosque and its hujra on October 7, 2026, while demolishing adjoining jhuggies. No disconnection order, outstanding dues or alleged statutory violation was communicated, the plea stated.
The appeal also challenged the single judge's finding that Haroon had no right, title or interest in the mosque despite occupying the premises uninterruptedly for three decades.
The imam's legal challenge is part of a wider dispute over the religious structure, situated within Jaipur Polo Ground, which the Centre took over in June. On October 29, the High Court refused worshippers access to the mosque after the Centre assured it that no coercive action would be taken against the structure for the time being.
Separately, the High Court is hearing a petition challenging the proposed demolition of a century-old mosque at Krishi Bhawan, which is being redeveloped under the Central Vista project.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.