Dargah Shaikh Kalimullah & Ors. v. North Delhi Municipal Corporation & Ors.

Delhi High Court · 19 Dec 2018
S. Muralidhar; Sanjeev Narula
W.P.(C) 6795/2014
administrative other Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court directed revision of the Jama Masjid Precinct redevelopment plan ensuring compliance with heritage laws and stakeholder consultations before final approval.

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'>4:3 HIGH COURT OF DELHI 14, 15 and 16
W.P.(C)6795/2014 and CMs8735/2016,13838/2017,9287/2018 and 53689/2018
DARGAH SHAIKH KALIMULLAH& ORS. ..... Petitioners
Through: Mr Rakesh Tikku, Senior Advocate with Mr Gaurav Kohli,Advocates.
VERSUS
NORTHDELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION & ORS Respondents
Thi-ough: Mr AmitAndlay,Advocatefor R-3.
Ms Meera Bhatia,Advocate for HOT Mr Sanjay Kumar Pathak, Advocate for Delhi Urban Art Commission /R--
6.
Mr Akhil Mittal, Addl. Standing Counsel for NDMC/R-2.
Mr Anuj Aggarwal,ASC for GNCTD with Mr Rao Abdul Ahad Khan, Advocates for R-1.
Mr N.A.Khan,ASC for GNCTD.
Ms Mini Pushkarna, Standing Counsel for North DMC with Ms
Swagata,Advocates.
JUDGMENT

4 W.P.(C)5707/2018& CM 22168/2018 MOHAMMAD NASIR AND ORS. Petitioners Through: Mr Mobin Akhtar,Advocate.

VERSUS

GOVT.OF NOT OF DELHI AND ORS. Respondents Through: Ms MeeraBhatia,Advocate for UOI. Mr Arjun Pant,Advocate for DDA. W.P.(C)6795/2014& connected matters. Page[1] of[5] 2018:DHC:8636-DB for Delhi Urban Art Commission /R- 6. Mr Vinod Diwakar, CGSC for UOl with Mr Misha P.Nadhu,Advocate. + W.P.(C)5251/2018&CM 21332/2018 DARGAH SHEIKH KALIMULLAH SAHIB THROUGH: ITS MUTAWALLI Petitioner Thi-ough: Mr Rakesh Tikku, Senior Advocate with Mr Gaurav Kohli,Advocates.

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA & ORS. Through: Respondents Ms Meera Bhatia,Advocate for UOI. for Delhi Urban Art Commission /R- 6. Mr Wajeeh Shafiq, Standing Counsel for Delhi Wakf Board with Ms ■Akanksha Raha and Ms Sabika Ahmad, Advocates for R-2. Ms Mini Pushkama, Standing Counsel for North DMC with Ms Swagata, Advocates. CORAM: JUSTICE S. MURALIDHAR JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA % ORDER 19.12.2018 l.At the 29^'' meeting of the Board of Directors of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation ('SRDC'), the following decision was taken in W-P-(C) 6795/2014 & connectedmatters. relation to the redevelopment ofthe Jama Masjid PrecinctProject: "The Managing Director, SRDC apprised the Board about the previous directions ofHon'ble High Court in Writ Petition NO. 6795/2014 titled as "Dargah Shaikh Kalimullah & Ors. Vs North Delhi Municipal Corporation & Ors." and' directions thereof to District Magistrate (Central) to conduct stakeholder consultation. The Board was also apprised about the directions dated 12^^ November,2018 of Hon'ble High Court that a final decision must be taken by the SRDC and a copy thereofplaced beforethe Courtonthe next date ofhearing(i.e. 19^^ December, 2018). The Board has taken cognizance of report regarding "Stakeholder's Consultation on Detailed Project Report-(DPR) of Jama Masjid Precinct" conducted by District Magistrate (Central). The Board-agreed to conclusion of said report wherein it is mentioned that relocation/shifting ofMeena Bazar and Dargah Sheikh Kalimullah Marketto the proposed piece of land is not advisable. The Board also agreed that the proposed heritage park near parade ground parking shall be utilized as per MPD-2021 and construction activity on it shall be contrary to the provisions of the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains act 1958 being restrained under the policy of National Monument Authority. The Board appreciated the DPR of Jama Masjid Precinct prepared by M/s Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates(PSDA), but it noted that same cannot be" accepted considering it not ^ being favoured by various stakeholders including DDA, AST, shopkeepers. of Meena Bazar, Delhi Waqf Board etc. After detailed discussion, the Board "RESOLVED TI-IAT Engineer-in-Chiefshall ask M/s RSDA to revise the DPR (along with detail estimates) for Jama Masjid Precinct Redevelopment Project within two weeks and submit the same along with the proposal for in-situ infrastructure improvement of Meena Bazar and Dargah Sheikh Kallimullah Market to Chairman SRDC/Hon'ble Minister for Urban Development/PWD within one week thereafter." W.P. (C)6795/2014& connected matters. Page3of[5]

2. In view ofthe above decision,the Consultants i.e. M/s Pradeep Sachdeva Designs Associates('PSDA')have to come up now with a revised detailed project report('DPR')along with revised detailed estimates. In order that the momentum should not be lost,this Courtissues the following directions;

(i) M/s PSDA will submit their revised DPR to the SRDC by 28^

(ii) Within a period of six weeks thereafter, the District Magistrate

(Central)will convene as many meetings as may be required ofall the stakeholders, which would include the North DMC, the Archaeological Survey ofIndia,Meena Bazar Traders Association, Delhi Wakf Board, Dargah Shaikh Kalimullah Market Association, the Delhi Urban Art Commission, the Delhi Development Authority, the L&DO and any other authority including the Delhi Jal Board which will have a say in the implementation ofsuch revised DPR.

(iii) The final decision on the revised DPR be taken not later than 30 April,2019.

3. Ajointrequest has been made by all counsel that this Courtshould retain at least one of these matters on board for monitoring the progress of implementation ofthe above directions.

4. Accordingly, W.P.(C) Nos. 5707/2018 and 5251/2018 and the pending applications in those petitions are hereby disposed of. List W.P.(C) NO. 6795/2014 and the pending applications for hearing on 15"^ May,2019 at W.P.fCJ 6795/2014& connected matters. Page4of[5] /^O

2.15 pm.The matter to be treated as part-heard.