The Delhi High Court on March 16 allowed re-opening of Mosque in Nizamuddin Markaz in view of Shab-e-Baraat festival.
A Single Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri was dealing with an application in the petition moved by the Delhi Waqf Board seeking to ease restrictions at the Nizamuddin Markaz.
The Court, however, modified many of the strict conditions that the SHO had imposed in his order.
Markaz the same place where the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held in March 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and had remained shut since then over alleged violation of norms.
Markaz was locked and public entry was prohibited in connection with an alleged case of violation of Covid-19 norms.
Several FIRs were registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, the Foreigners Act and various provisions of the penal code in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat event .
On the last date of hearing, the Union had assured the Court that it will consider fairly, if an application is made by the Delhi Waqf Board for reopening of masjid premises in Nizamuddin Markaz.The Court had directed the petitioner to file an application before the SHO.
Also Read: ICJ directs Russia to suspend military operations against Ukraine
The Delhi Police also permitted the management to hold prayers on four floors of at Masjid Bangley Wali on Shab-e-Barat. However, only less than 100 people will be allowed on each storey, in accordance with the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDA) guidelines.
The Court has now said that the entire mosque premise – which includes ground floor plus three other floors of the Markaz building – should be opened for offering namaz and prayers.
The management committee has also been directed to put up the restrictions imposed outside the mosque .
The Court will heard the matter next on March 31.
On behalf of the management committee it was told that many of the conditions imposed by the police are highly unreasonable and unfair.
Also Read: Probe cannot be started without information: Kapil Sibal on PMLA
According to the Petition , central government vide its guidelines for the phased reopening of public places and facilities after the Covid-19 lockdown, known as “Guidelines for Unlock 1” dated May 30, 2020, allowed for the reopening of a list of religious places outside containment zones from Jun 8, 2020.