Imam Bukhari's appointment challenged in Delhi High Court

Imam Bukhari courted controversy after he named his 19-year-old son Shaban as his successor

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Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari's decision to appoint his son Shaban Bukhari as his successor has been challenged in the Delhi High Court, with the petitioners seeking the immediate removal of both functionaries from India's largest mosque.

"We want that Imam Bukhari have no authority whatsoever in continuing as the Imam because his appointment in void ab initio. There are two reasons for it. Firstly, there is nothing called 'hereditary' in Islam for the position of Imam. Second, he has to be appointed by the Delhi Wafq Board, which did not give its appointment; it only gave its assent after six years of his anointment," D P Singh, lawyer for lead petitioner Suhail Ahmed Khan told the media.

"A person like Bukhari, in any case cannot continue as the Imam because the Imam has certain traits. He has to have certain qualifications. This man gives certain political statements from that platform. He has had two parties, whereby he has fought elections. He gives political sermons and this is all something which the Imam is not supposed to do," he added.

Singh further alleged that Imam Bukhari has had several cases lodged against him but no action has been taken against him.

"There are criminal cases against Bukhari but nobody has been able to arrest him till date. No functionary of the government, be it Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) or even the Delhi administration has taken any action whatsoever against this man at any point in time. Whatever orders the court has passed have not been followed," he said.

Singh also stated that no work pertaining to the Jama Masjid has been allowed to take place.

"Since 2005, the courts have wanted that this monument should be a protected monument but nothing has been done. The redevelopment plan was finalised in 2010 but no work has been done," he said.

Last month, Imam Bukhari had courted controversy after he named his 19-year-old son Shaban as his successor and sent out an invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but refrained from inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the same.