Seek NDMC permission for repair work near Jama Masjid: HC

Delhi High Court today said no repair or renovation work can go on near Jama Masjid area without permission of the municipal body there and asked the persons claiming to repair two shrines there to seek consent of the authority.
The application was moved by the contractors undertaking construction work there who have contended they were carrying out repair and renovation of the 'Dargah of Hare Bhare Shah and 'Sufi Sarmad Shaheed' adjoining the monument.
Justice Manmohan passed the order while hearing a plea seeking setting aside of the court's order directing that status quo be maintained in connection with alleged illegal constructions close to Jama Masjid.

They submitted that they have obtained no objection certificates from the Deputy Conservator of Forests and Delhi Waqf Board.
The court, however, directed them to apply, within a week, to the North Municipal Corporation of Delhi (NDMC) for carrying out the repair and renovation work.
After the application is filed, a representative each from Archaeological Survey of India, NDMC, architect of the Jama Masjid Redevelopment Plan, etc, should visit the site in question within a period of two weeks, the court said.

It said that on the basis of the inspection/site visit the NDMC is to dispose of the application of the two private persons who are carrying out the construction activity near Jama Masjid.

Meanwhile, NDMC told the court that its officials have visited the area and will be filing its status report shortly.
The matter will now come up for hearing on May 26.
On April 4, the High Court had ordered that status quo be maintained in connection with alleged illegal constructions close to Jama Masjid.
The court had also issued notice to the Centre, Delhi government, Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi Development Authority, NDMC, Delhi Waqf Board and the people engaged in the alleged unauthorised work.
The court was hearing a plea by Mohd Aftab, a shopkeeper of Meena Bazaar here, who has alleged that lot of unauthorised occupants and construction mafia were encroaching upon Jama Masjid.

In his petition, he has alleged that large scale unauthorised construction has been discovered at 'Dargah of Hare Bhare Shah and 'Sufi Sarmad Shaheed' adjoining the monument.