The Delhi High Court has issued a formal notice to the Union Government and civic authorities seeking their response to a petition demanding the protection, preservation, and upkeep of the historic mosque situated in the vicinity of the Delhi Race Course in the national capital.

A bench of the High Court took cognizance of the plea, which highlighted growing apprehensions regarding the vulnerability of the centuries-old religious structure amid urban redevelopment and civic infrastructure expansion in Central Delhi. The court directed the concerned statutory respondents to place their counter-affidavits on record detailing the current status and conservation measures in place.

Concerns Over Heritage Preservation

The petition, moved by local caretakers and heritage advocates, argues that the Race Course mosque represents significant architectural and socio-religious heritage dating back several generations. The plea emphasizes that the structure, registered under Waqf properties, requires immediate civic attention to prevent encroachments, unauthorized structural alterations, or any potential disruption caused by surrounding vehicular traffic and municipal works.

According to counsel representing the petitioners, civic development plans in and around the Lutyens' Delhi belt have occasionally overlooked the structural fragility of ancient masonry. The petition urges the bench to ensure that the site is demarcated clearly and granted formal protection against arbitrary clearance or structural degradation.

Key Directives Issued by the Court

During preliminary hearings, the bench underlined the imperative for administrative clarity and proactive preservation of legitimate heritage assets. Key aspects addressed during the proceedings include:

* Notice to Key Authorities: Directives were served to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Land and Development Office (L&DO), and municipal representatives to submit status reports. * Status of Land Title and Records: The court requested verification of municipal survey records and relevant Waqf notifications establishing the legal standing and boundaries of the premises. * Preventative Safety Measures: Petitioners sought interim directions restraining any coercive demolition or structural modification until the judicial review concludes.

Balancing Urban Development and Cultural Assets

The case highlights the broader, recurring legal conflict in the capital between modernization projects and the preservation of historic religious sites. In recent months, multiple heritage mosques and shrines across central Delhi have been subject to municipal scrutiny regarding road-widening initiatives and right-of-way clearances.

Legal representatives for the government indicated that statutory authorities act strictly within the framework of city master plans and civic safety guidelines, adding that detailed responses would be submitted within the timeline stipulated by the bench.

The High Court has scheduled the matter for further hearing in the coming weeks, awaiting comprehensive replies from all designated central agencies.