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The Delhi Development Authority, which recently razed an illegal mosque on its land sparking protests, told the Delhi High Court on Monday that it was willing to offer an alternative plot for re-construction of the mosque for an amicable settlement of the dispute.
The DDA, facing contempt proceedings for not razing the illegal structure, said it was ready to give an alternative piece of land, measuring 400 square meters, to 'Noor Charitable Society' which used to run the place of worship.
Justice G S Sistani asked the society and the Delhi Wakf Board to consider the offer of the land developing agency and intimate the court about the outcome of their negotiation on May 16, the next date of hearing. Earlier, Justice Sistani had asked the DDA to reclaim its land by constructing a boundary wall on the site where the illegal mosque was razed in pursuance of a Delhi High Court order.
The court, however, had allowed 10 members of the community to offer namaz for two months at the site until a solution was arrived at by the parties concerned. "The DDA will complete the construction of boundary wall (at the site where illegal mosque was demolished) and leave a gate of 2.5 feet to allow 10 persons of the community, whose names would be furnished to DDA and police, to offer namaz for a period of two months," justice Sistani had said.
The court's direction had come while hearing a plea of R K Saini, president, Jangpura Residents Welfare Association, seeking start of contempt proceedings against members of legislative assebbly Shoib Iqbal and Asif Mohd Khan, besides the chief minister and shahi imam of Jama Masjid for allegedly instigating mobs to trespass into the site after the demolition.
The DDA, on January 12, demolished the structure and later, had sought dropping of the contempt proceedings in the High Court after "an unqualified apology" for its failure to reclaim the land earlier. However, later the locals trespassed and started offering prayers after erecting a shamiana at the site which led to the filing of a fresh contempt plea against the leaders.