Ceremony to anoint Shahi Imam successor not legal: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Friday said the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari to anoint his son as his successor has no legal sanctity.

However, the court refused to stay the ceremony scheduled for Saturday.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said the function is not legal and will not give any “special equities” in their (Imam’s) favour.

The bench issued notice to and sought responses of the Centre, Wakf Board and Bukhari on the three PILs challenging the Imam’s decision to appoint his son as the Naib Imam (deputy Imam).

The court also questioned the Board why it has not taken any action against Mr. Bukhari till date.

On Thursday, during arguments on the three petitions, the Centre and the Wakf Board had submitted before the court that the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam anointing his son as his deputy and successor has no legal sanctity.

The Board, in its response to the court’s query as to what was their legal position on the issue, had also said that it would be holding a meeting soon and action will be taken against Bukhari for what he has done.

Earlier, the Centre had said that the Mughal-era mosque is a Wakf property and it has to decide how the rule of primogeniture applies on anointment of new Shahi Imam, which has come under challenge.

The Archaeological Survey of India had also requested the court to declare the city’s Jama Masjid as an ancient monument because of its national importance while contending that it needs to be protected.

The PILs filed by Suhail Ahmed Khan, Ajay Gautam and advocate V K Anand had said Jama Masjid is a property of Delhi Wakf Board and Bukhari as its employee cannot appoint his son as Naib Imam.

The petitions had said Shahi Imam had announced on October 30 that his 19-year-old son would succeed him as the next Shahi Imam and the ceremony of Dastarbandi would be held on November 22.

The pleas had alleged that the Shahi Imam was a public post and not the “personal property” of Bukhari and imamat (the position of a divinely-appointed leader) is not transferable.

One of the pleas had also contended that Bukhari is merely an employee of Delhi Wakf Board which is the only authority to choose and appoint the next Imam of Jama Masjid.

The PILs had also asked the court to declare as invalid the appointment of Mr. Bukhari as the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid and had also sought directions for Delhi Wakf Board to take over the affairs of Jama Masjid and appoint a new Shahi Imam.

The plea had also asked ASI and the central government to declare Jama Masjid a protected monument.

Bukhari had recently sparked a controversy by announcing that he has invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the ceremony for anointing his son as the deputy Imam but did not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PTI