A historic mosque in New Delhi, believed to be around 150 years old, is facing the threat of eviction after India’s Land and Development Office issued a notice requiring the premises to be vacated within six days. The Race Course Mosque, located near the official residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been described by the authorities as an unauthorised structure on government land. The move has sparked concern among Muslim organisations, which argue that the mosque is a registered Waqf property and is listed as a heritage site by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
According to Indian media reports, the eviction notice was recently sent to the mosque’s managing committee. The Land and Development Office, which operates under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, reportedly stated that the structure had been built on government land without the necessary authorisation. The committee was instructed to vacate the premises within the stipulated six-day period.
The decision has raised questions over the mosque’s legal status and the protection afforded to historic religious buildings. Although the authorities have characterised the structure as unauthorised, Muslim organisations have pointed to its Waqf registration and inclusion on the municipal heritage list as grounds for a closer examination of the case.
The controversy has intensified following reports that the mosque’s electricity and water supplies have been disconnected. The reported disruption has raised concerns about the ability of worshippers to access the premises and perform their daily prayers. However, detailed clarification from the authorities regarding the disconnections has not been reported.
As the dispute develops, political leaders and religious organisations have called on the central government to intervene. Asaduddin Owaisi, a Member of Parliament and leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has urged Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to take immediate action to protect the mosque.
Owaisi has argued that the mosque has been recognised as a gazetted Waqf property since 1977. He maintains that its longstanding religious use and documented status should be taken into account before any action is taken against the historic structure. He has also questioned the circumstances surrounding the proposed eviction and called for the authorities to address the matter urgently.
The Waqf designation is central to the dispute. Waqf properties are generally assets dedicated under Islamic law for religious or charitable purposes and are subject to specific legal and administrative arrangements in India. Their status, however, does not automatically settle every question concerning land ownership, construction permissions or the applicability of other laws. The mosque’s documentation and the government’s objections will therefore be important in determining how the dispute proceeds.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, one of India’s prominent Muslim organisations, has also appealed to the central government. A delegation from the organisation met Rijiju on Monday and requested protection for both the mosque and an adjoining cemetery.
In a memorandum submitted to the minister, the delegation highlighted the mosque’s inclusion on the official heritage list. It called for the electricity and water supplies to be restored promptly and urged the authorities to ensure that worshippers could enter the premises and offer prayers without obstruction.
The organisation stressed that the mosque and the adjoining cemetery should be protected while the dispute is addressed. Its appeal reflects broader concerns about preserving historic religious sites and ensuring that administrative action takes account of their documented status and longstanding community use.
Following the meeting, Rijiju reportedly assured the delegation that he would make every possible effort to resolve the matter. It remains unclear, however, whether the government will suspend the eviction process or take immediate steps to restore the mosque’s essential services.
The case has drawn attention to the competing questions of government land management, heritage preservation and the legal status of religious properties. While the Land and Development Office maintains that the mosque is an unauthorised structure, Muslim organisations insist that its Waqf registration and heritage listing warrant protection and further scrutiny.
The immediate concern is whether the eviction notice will be enforced within the specified period and whether worshippers will be able to continue using the mosque. The outcome may depend on the authorities’ response to the representations made by religious organisations and any further administrative or legal steps taken to resolve the dispute.
