Delhi High Court forbids All India Muslim Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan; says it may spark communal tensions

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to direct the Delhi Police to grant a no-objection certificate for holding an 'All India Muslim Mahapanchayat' at Ramlila Maidan in the capital..Justice Subramonium Prasad examined the poster of the event and said that it can have communal overtones. Therefore, the event cannot be permitted to be held at a time when several Hindu religious festivals are being held.It also noted that the gathering has been called in the Old Delhi area, which is known to have had communal tensions.“Between Navratri and Diwali, there are several festivals like Karvachauth, Dhanteras etc. The period from the end of Shraddh to Diwali is extremely auspicious for the Hindu community. Though the event has been styled as purpose for educating the people of their rights, but the tenor of the posters indicate that they can have communal overtones which can result in increase in communal tensions in old Delhi area which is a sensitive area as people from different communities live there and the communal violence in the area is not unknown,” Justice Prasad said..The event was slated to be organised by a group named Mission Save Constitution on October 29. While the Delhi Police had earlier been granted its no objection, the same was later withdrawn. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) also withdrew the booking of the Ramlila Maidan subsequently.Advocate Mehmood Pracha is the National Convenor of Mission Save Constitution. Wajahat Habibullah, former Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, is its Principal Advisor. Former High Court judge, Justice BG Kolse is the organisation’s Advisor. Islamic cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza is also associated with the group..After considering the case, the Court clarified that the petitioner organisation can approach the authorities for fresh permission after the festivals are over.The Court directed the authorities to consider the petitioner’s request on merits if they do approach them.