Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted more time to the Central government to file a reply on a plea seeking protection of six religious properties situated around the places where work for the Central Vista redevelopment project is underway.
Hearing the petition, a bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva has directed the central government to file its reply by Oct. 12. Earlier on Sept. 21, the court had directed the central government to present its side.
The Waqf Board in its petition stated that a guideline consisting of no changes in the shape and size of the Waqf properties during the construction of the Central Vista Project in New Delhi should be issued.
Advocate Wajih Shafiq, appearing for the Waqf Board, said that "the Waqf Board is a constitutional body, which has been constituted under Section-13 of the Waqf Board Act. The Board has the right to manage and control its properties in Delhi. In the petition, it has been mentioned that the Waqf properties are ancient and an important place of worship so there is a fear that the size and shape of the property would be tempered for the vista project,"
"The waqf properties subject matter of the present petition, being places of worship, have great sentimental value and it is necessary for the respondent to clear the doubts with respect to the future of these waqf properties," the Waqf Board said.
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