Dilapidated platform can't be conferred place for namaz in absence of proof, Supreme Court says

The court dismissed a plea by the Rajasthan Waqf board against allowing Jindal Saw Limited to remove a structure at Bhilwara

The Supreme Court on Friday said in absence of a proof of dedication or user, a dilapidated wall or a platform cannot be conferred a status of a religious place for the purpose of offering namaz or prayers.

A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and V Ramasubramaian dismissed an appeal filed by Waqf Board, Rajasthan against the High Court's decision allowing Jindal Saw Limited to remove a structure at Bhilwara after being granted a lease of 1,556.78 hectares for the mining of Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Cobalt, Nickle and associated minerals.

In 2012, the Anjuman Committee addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Waqf Board stating there is a wall and Chabutrah (platform) on a 'Tiranga Ki Qalandari Masjid’ where in olden times laborers used to offer prayers.

The Waqf Board said that the area consisting of the platform over the Tiranga Hill should be saved from mining.

The court, however, noted the structure is totally dilapidated without any roof and in fact a wall and some broken derelict platform exist at the spot.

"The area is surrounded by vegetation and there is also nothing to suggest that the structure was ever used for offering prayers (Namaaz) as neither the area is accessible, nor there is any facility of Wazoo, which is stated to be an essential step before offering prayer. The experts from the Archaeological Department have reported that the structure has no historical or archaeological importance," the court said.

Even though the state government claimed that they have identified it to be a religious structure, the court pointed out the stand has not been produced on record.

"There is nothing on record that such decision if any, was arrived. It is always open to the State as lessor to exercise the powers conferred in it by the lease deed after complying the principles of natural justice and on good and sufficient grounds," the bench said.

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