High Court refuses to stay dastarbandi ceremony at Jama Masjid

November 21, 2014 01:37 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 06:57 pm IST - New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Friday said the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari (in picture) to anoint his son as his successor has no legal sanctity. File photo

The Delhi High Court on Friday said the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari (in picture) to anoint his son as his successor has no legal sanctity. File photo

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stay the 'dastarbandi' (anointment) ceremony at Jama Masjid, in which Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari's son is to be appointed the Naib Imam, saying the ritual has no legal sanctity.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw said in its order after hearing arguments on a bunch of public interest writ petitions that since the 'dastarbandi' had no legal position, as informed by the Union Government and the Delhi Waqf Board, it could not stay the ceremony.

The Court issued notices in the case to the Centre, Delhi Waqf Board, Mr. Bukhari, Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and asked them file their response by January 28.

The PILs had contended that Mr. Bukhari's decision to anoint his 19-year-old son, Shaban, as the Naib Imam of the Mughal-era mosque at a ceremony scheduled for Saturday was wrong as neither the ritual had the legal or religious sanctity nor was the Imam's post hereditary.

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