The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to maintain status quo with regard to land usage and proposed transfer of over 123 plots and properties at prime locations in the national capital to the Delhi Wakf Board by the UPA-II government.
The court also asked the Centre to treat the petition filed by Indraprastha Vishva Hindu Parishad as a representation following which the government assured it that a well considered decision will be taken keeping in mind all perspectives.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw gave the direction while disposing of a petition seeking quashing of the order by which these plots and properties were taken away from government agencies and given to the Delhi Wakf Board.
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"Writ petition be treated as representation and respondent 1 (Centre) will take an appropriate decision considering the representation of all stakeholders. Meanwhile, status quo with regard to lands in question be maintained," the bench said.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, assured the court that, "Government will take well considered decision keeping in mind all perspectives of the petitioner."
The petition, filed by lawyer Anil Grover on behalf of the Indraprastha Vishva Hindu Parishad, had accused the central government of according "undue favour" to the minority community.
The government notification had said its land-owning agencies -- Land and Development Office and the DDA -- will relinquish their rights over the properties, spread across the national capital, and those will now go to the Wakf Board.
The petition had sought quashing of the government notification issued on March 5 by which the Centre had withdrawn from the acquisition of the 123 properties.
"The properties which have been acquired and vested in the government after the possession of the same has been taken, it cannot be de-notified/released from acquisition in exercise of power under Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act," the petition had said.
