The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Thursday filed a compliance report on the demolition of an illegal mosque built on public land in Jangpura B-Block in South Delhi.
The mosque was demolished on Wednesday on the direction of a court on a contempt of court petition filed by the Jangpura Residents' Welfare Association against the DDA for not complying with an earlier order of the court to demolish the mosque.
In the compliance report filed by one of its officials, the DDA submitted that it had not violated the demolition order. However, if any act of omission or commission on its part was construed an infraction of the judgment, the DDA tendered an unqualified apology and prayed forgiveness, the report said.
“Noor Masjid's boundary wall and new tin shed were removed and thereafter the land measuring 350 sq. m. was reclaimed,” the report said.
It further said that fencing of the land and construction of a new boundary wall was in progress, and a sign board had been put up at the site reading “DDA Land.”
The DDA urged the Court to dismiss the contempt petition in view of the demolition of the illegal mosque.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Wakf Board filed and later withdrew a petition seeking modification of the demolition order, when a Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Sanjeev Khanna said this court did not have the authority to hear the petition filed under the Delhi Wakf Act.
The Bench suggested to the Board to approach the Wakf Tribunal, instead.
The Board in its petition said that before a mosque was built on the site, it was a burial ground for Muslims. It said that the land belonged to it and hence the DDA should have approached it before demolishing the mosque.
However, the petition was withdrawn when the Bench said that if something was found contrary to facts, the Court would impose a penalty of Rs.1 lakh on the Board.
