No gathering can be permitted at Nizamuddin Markaz mosque in view of prohibition on congregations due to COVID19: Centre tells Delhi High Court

A day after it said that the Nizamuddin Markaz mosque could be opened in view of Ramzan, the Central government on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that no gathering or congregation can be permitted there on account of the latest COVID-19 guidelines (Delhi Waqf Board vs UOI & ors)..Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a Single Judge Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta that in terms of the April 10 order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, all social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious/ festival related and other gatherings and congregations are prohibited..In view of Centre's stand, the Court directed the competent authority to file an affidavit indicating how this direction was being implemented in places including temples, mosques, churches etc. in the national capital.."The competent authority will file an affidavit indicating as to the manner in which clause (ii) of the prohibition at Sr.No.1, Annexure-A to the order dated 10th April, 2021 of the DDMA is being implemented and whether religious/festival related and other gatherings and congregations are being permitted to take place or not including in the temples, mosques, churches etc. in the region of NCT of Delhi," the Court directed. .Till the next date of hearing, the permission to the five persons nominated to perform the Namaz all five times would continue to be permitted, Central government said. .The Court was hearing a petition preferred by the Delhi Waqf Board to re-open the Nizamuddin Markaz which came into limelight after it hosted a Tablighi Jamaat congregation during the early days of COVID-19 pandemic in the city..It is the Waqf's grievance that although all religious places outside of containment zones were allowed to be opened in Unlock-1, the mosque remained locked since March last year..On Tuesday, the Board also proposed a plan to facilitate Ramadan prayers at the mosque. The Court sought a response from the Central government on the proposed plan..In its order, the Court also recorded that while the writ petition is yet to be decided and it has not passed order, it was "unfortunate" that Amanatulla Khan, who is the Chairman of the Waqf Board, made a statement stating that the court had ordered the opening of the mosque. .The matter would be heard next on April 15. .[Read Order]