As part of the ongoing Central Vista redevelopment in New Delhi, the century-old Qadimi Mosque situated inside the Krishi Bhawan complex will need to be cleared. The central government presented this position before the Delhi High Court through a comprehensive status report, submitting that maintaining a permanent religious establishment inside a central administrative facility is incompatible with the secular character of government properties.
Land and Development Office Status Report
Submitted by the Land and Development Office (L&DO), which functions under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the status report detailed the legal ownership of the property. The government clarified that the land on which the mosque stands is owned entirely by the Centre. Under an agreement dating back to 1940, the mosque management committee had received only temporary possession. The report asserted that establishing or retaining any permanent religious structure inside central government office complexes cannot be sanctioned.
Secular Character and Central Vista Master Plan
The authorities emphasized that public land within the central administrative precinct cannot be subject to permanent religious reservations. The current site occupied by Krishi Bhawan and the nearby Shastri Bhawan is slated for the development of Common Central Secretariat (CCS) Buildings 4 and 5, which constitute a project of national importance. Designating or partitioning any section of the redevelopment area for a specific religious edifice would run contrary to the Central Vista Master Plan.
Article 25 Arguments and Alternative Facilities
Addressing contentions regarding religious freedom under Article 25 of the Constitution, the government maintained that a temporary arrangement on state land does not confer a fundamental right to offer prayers at a specific location. By way of alternative facilities, the government highlighted the Shahi Masjid Zabta Ganj near India Gate, situated within a two-kilometre radius of Krishi Bhawan. For decades, the Qadimi Mosque served as a regular prayer site for central secretariat employees working in Krishi Bhawan and neighbouring government departments.
Managing Committee's Plea and Court Inquiries
The mosque's managing committee approached the High Court in September, seeking protection against demolition. The plea clarified that the committee was not opposing the broader redevelopment plan, but requested that the structure either be preserved or an alternate prayer space provided nearby. Earlier, in December 2021, the Delhi Waqf Board had approached the court regarding six mosques potentially impacted by the Central Vista development, during which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had provided assurances that these properties would not be touched.
Taking note of the government's current stance, Justice Anish Dayal questioned whether established rules exist that prohibit religious structures or prayer facilities within government premises. The bench further asked the government to clarify its formal policy concerning alternative spaces for various faiths. The court has scheduled the next hearing for November 23, allowing the mosque committee time to file its formal rejoinder to the Centre's status report.
