Old Delhi Demolition Sparks Political Row, MLA Calls Action Illegal and Unconstitutional

The political atmosphere in Old Delhi has heated up following the demolition of a dispensary and other structures near the Masjid and Dargah Faiz-e Elahi in the Turkman Gate area of the capital on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

Matia Mahal MLA Aaley Muhammad Iqbal expressed strong displeasure over the action, terming the demolition “completely illegal” and a violation of the Constitution. He questioned the haste shown by the local administration, pointing out that the matter was sub judice at the time of the demolition.

“Why was action taken when the case was still being heard in court and before a final decision was pronounced?” Iqbal asked.

He alleged that senior officials of the local administration carried out the demolition to “please their masters” and claimed the action reflected bias against Muslim places of worship.

Iqbal also rejected the administration’s claim that one of the demolished structures was a wedding hall, stating that the site was actually part of a graveyard where marriages of poor girls were conducted in temporary structures. He said a charitable health centre had also been operating from the premises, providing medicines for three days for a nominal charge of Rs 30 and offering several medical tests at low cost.

Calling the episode “suspicious,” the MLA said a petitioner had claimed in court that the land belonged to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Land & Development Office (L&DO), while, according to him, the agencies themselves were unaware of such ownership. “Till date, neither the MCD nor the L&DO has issued any notice to the mosque or dargah committee stating that the land belongs to the government and must be vacated,” he said.

Iqbal further pointed out that a seven per cent tax for conducting the weddings is collected by the Delhi Waqf Board from the dargah, whose accounts are audited, noting that the Waqf Board is part of the Delhi government.

“When courts are hearing as many as 123 land cases in Delhi, such action is unacceptable,” he said, alleging that the move was aimed at disturbing communal harmony and appeasing a vote bank.

The treasurer of the Masjid Faiz-e Elahi Committee told UNI’s correspondent that a notice had been issued around two to three months ago, after which decisions were taken in haste without giving the committee sufficient time to present its case.

He questioned how demolition could proceed when the matter was sub judice, calling it a sign that the administration was disregarding the judicial process.

Social activist and resident Shafi Dehlvi described the action as unilateral and alleged it was carried out at the behest of the Seva Foundation, an organisation he said was not known in the local area.

Another resident, Nawabuddin, termed the demolition “high-handed” and said the mosque administration should have been allowed to state its position. He added that the action had caused serious inconvenience to locals, including traffic and transportation problems.

Opinions among residents, however, remain divided. While some locals welcomed the demolition and termed it justified, others called it biased and unacceptable. Youth in the area said the action was not entirely right, whereas some elders defended it in the interest of law and order.

Speaking to UNI, a local youth said the demolished dispensary had been a major relief for residents, offering treatment at minimal cost. “With its demolition, poor people in the area will lose access to affordable medical facilities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has said the demolition was part of an encroachment removal drive at Ramleela Ground, carried out in compliance with Delhi High Court directions.

The civic body, which is a licensee of the ground under the Land & Development Office (L&DO), conducted a joint survey with the L&DO and the Delhi Development Authority that found encroachment over about 36,428 sq ft, allegedly used for commercial activities.

Acting on a writ petition, the High Court on November 12, 2025, directed the removal of encroachments after hearings. Following hearings in November–December, the MCD passed an order on December 22 and carried out the drive on January 7, excluding the leased graveyard area.