HC asks Waqf Board, govt to reply to plea alleging illegal construction at graveyard
New Delhi, Sep 14: The Delhi High Court has sought response of the city government and Delhi Waqf Board on a plea accusing the board of being silent on alleged alienation and illegal construction at a graveyard on Idgah Road.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issues notice to the Delhi government, Delhi Waqf Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Police on the petition.
The court asked the authorities to file their replies within four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on November 11.
It also clarified that any construction carried out at the property shall be subject to the further orders of the court and directed that status quo shall be maintained with regard to the title.
Petitioner Mohammad Mazhar Ahmed submitted that qabristan Ahata Badruddin, situated at Idgah Road here, is a notified waqf property.
The petitioner, represented through advocate M Sufian Siddiqui, claimed that the property has been subject to alienation by way of fraudulent transactions which have resulted in unauthorised construction on it and the graves on the premises being desecrated.
He submitted that the alienation and consequent illegal construction is violative of certain provisions of the Waqf Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
He further said the provision of the Waqf Act completely prohibits any form of alienation of a waqf property and therefore the silence on part of the respondents regarding the alienation is not justified.
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Families of Anti-CAA activists question selective application of 'bail is the rule' principle
New Delhi: The families of activists imprisoned after the 2020 Delhi riots, including Umar Khalid, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Khalid Saifi, and Athar Khan, have voiced concerns over their prolonged detention. They argue that despite the Supreme Court's assertion that "bail is the rule," the activists continue to remain behind bars.
At a public meeting organized by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (ACPR), Umar Khalid's father, S.Q.R. Ilyas, questioned the impartiality of the judiciary, pointing to the continued incarceration of his son and others. He also raised concerns about the relationship between the executive and judiciary, citing a recent instance where the Chief Justice of India invited the Prime Minister for a publicised religious ceremony.
The families of these activists, who were charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in connection with the anti-CAA protests, highlighted their struggles. Farzana Yasmeen, the sister of Meeran Haider, expressed her family's pain but noted that Haider remains proud of raising his voice for justice. Athar Khan's mother, Noor Jehan, also voiced frustration, saying their case had appeared in court 62 times without a hearing.
Khalid Saifi’s wife, Nargis Saifi, highlighted the disparity in the judicial system, pointing out that her husband has been denied bail for over four years, while individuals accused of more severe crimes like rape and corruption have been granted bail.
Several prominent figures, including Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, attended the meeting. Singh criticized the RSS and its influence, arguing that the organization poses a threat to India's democracy and constitution.
