New Delhi: The Delhi police has declined the appeal made by the management of Shah-e-Mardan dargah in Jor Bagh for holding a two-day cultural function to celebrate the Independence Day on the premises of Bargahe-e-Zanaibia as the location is currently under legal dispute.
According to Anjuman-e-Haideri, their manager Zahrul Hasan went to the Lodhi Colony Police Station that evening, only to be told that the event cannot happen at the dargah. On August 11, police sent the Anjuman a letter, referring to a May 2018 Delhi high court judgment, stating that they have been directed to maintain status quo on the site — including maintaining barricades outside it — and ensure law and order there.
They recommended that the body seek permission from the high court to celebrate there, or celebrate elsewhere.The longstanding dispute is over demarcation of Waqf land around the dargah.
It dates back to 2005, when the Anjuman had approached the high court claiming that the land around the dargah belon-ged to the Waqf board and had been taken over by the government.
The case is currently pending. The Delhi police spokesperson on Sunday said, the applicants were informed that the proposed place of function is a disputed piece of land and Delhi high court in its order dated 16th may 2018 had directed Delhi police to maintain status quo including in relation to the barricades placed around the site no. 4 and ensure that the law and order is maintained.
The applicants were also informed that the Delhi police however has no objection if the programme is organised at any other site, which is not disputed for which also a prior intimation shall be given about date, time and expected gathering shall be in-formed to the local police.
