New Delhi: Centre has told Delhi High Court that a century-old mosque in Krishi Bhawan has to be removed as the establishment of a permanent religious structure within the confines of a govt office complex is incompatible with the “secular” character of govt property.Govt said the Central Vista Redevelopment Master Plan provides for the redevelopment and reconstruction of the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) Buildings 4 and 5 at Plot No. 120, covering the footprint of the existing Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan to modernise the infrastructure essential to the governance of the nation.“Krishi Bhawan and the Central Secretariat complex are secular public premises, dedicated exclusively to governmental, administrative and public service functions. The establishment or retention of a permanent religious structure, or a demand for one, within the confines of a central govt office complex is incompatible with the secular character of govt property,” the Land and Development Office (L&DO), which comes under the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), said in a response to a petition by the caretakers of the mosque, seeking to restrain the authorities from demolishing, dismantling, removing or disturbing the waqf property/ Qadeemi Masjid.Govt said the public land situated within a central administrative zone cannot be encumbered by any permanent religious reservation.The affidavit was filed in pursuance of the order passed by Justice Anish Dayal seeking Centre’s response on the petition by Qadeemi Masjid’s caretaking committee. The matter is now listed for hearing on Nov 23.“The respondent no. 1 (central government), being the owner of the land, cannot be compelled to allot or set apart any separate space for the said mosque within the Krishi Bhawan compound or the Central Secretariat complex,” it added.The petitioner’s counsel had submitted they were not seeking stalling of any redevelopment project of Krishi Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan, where the mosque exists, i.e., within the compound of Krishi Bhawan, as planned by Centre.
