Centre tells court Qadeemi Masjid must be removed

The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that Qadeemi Masjid must be removed to allow construction of Common Central Secretariat buildings 4 and 5 under the Central Vista redevelopment plan, arguing that a permanent religious structure is incompatible with government property’s secular character. The Land and Development Office (LDO), in a status report dated October 27, said the mosque stands on the project site in the Krishi Bhawan compound and must be removed for construction to proceed. The plan covers the sites of Krishi Bhawan and adjoining Shastri Bhawan, where the new buildings are proposed. The Centre said government premises in the central administrative zone are dedicated to governmental, administrative and public-service functions. It argued that retaining the mosque, or setting aside any part of the project site for religious use, would conflict with the Central Vista master plan. These are the government’s arguments before the court, not findings by the court. The Qadeemi Masjid caretaking committee has asked the court to protect the mosque from removal. If retaining it at its current location is incompatible with the redevelopment, the committee seeks a...