Ceremony would not amount to anointment of Naib Imam: HC

The ceremony has been challenged by the Centre, Delhi Wakf Board and petitioners

The high court here on Friday said the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari to annoint his son as his successor has no legal sanctity. However, the court refused to stay the ceremony scheduled for tomorrow.

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 a 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 for not taking any action against 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 the Imam anointing his son, as his deputy and successor, has no legal sanctity.

The Board, in its response to the court’s query about 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 Jama Masjid, a 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 (ASI) had also requested the court to declare 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, stated that Jama Masjid is a property of Delhi Wakf Board and Bukhari as its employee cannot appoint his son as Naib Imam. The petitions had further stated that the Shahi Imam 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 Syed Ahmed Bukhari, and Imamat (the position of a divinely-appointed leader) is not transferable.

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

Bukhari had recently sparked a controversy by announcing that he extended an invitation to Pakistan prime minister, Nawaz Sharif,  for the coronation of his son as the deputy Imam but did not invite prime minister, Narendra Modi.