Qadeemi Masjid, inside Delhi’s Krishi Bhawan complex, predates the government offices built around it. A 1940 agreement allowed its caretakers to use government land as a mosque, but the Centre says the arrangement granted no ownership and that the structure must make way for Central Vista redevelopment.
A Mosque That Predates Krishi Bhawan: The caretaking committee told the Delhi High Court that Qadeemi Masjid is over a century old, citing records from 1945. The Delhi Waqf Board notified the property as Waqf land in 1970. It says the mosque predated Krishi Bhawan, completed in 1957, and nearby offices built in the 1950s and 60s. The 1940 agreement between the administration and the Jama Masjid managing committee confirms the site was used as a mosque before Independence.
What the 1940 Agreement Allowed: The agreement gave the committee permissive use of government-owned land for worship; it did not transfer ownership. It barred alterations, repairs or new construction without written approval and allowed authorities to resume possession if terms were breached. The Centre relies on these terms to argue that the committee has no right to insist the mosque remain. The caretakers say Muslim employees from Krishi Bhawan and nearby offices have prayed there for decades and invoke Article 25’s protection of religious practice.
Central Vista Plan Puts the Mosque’s Future in Question: Krishi Bhawan is slated to be replaced by Common Central Secretariat Buildings 4 and 5. The Centre says the mosque stands on the project site and must be removed, arguing that a permanent religious structure is incompatible with government office premises. It also points to Shahi Masjid Zabta Ganj, about two kilometres away, as a nearby prayer facility. The committee asks that the mosque be considered for retention or that a reasonable nearby prayer space be provided in the new complex.
High Court Seeks Clarity on Prayer Spaces: At a November 2 hearing, the Delhi High Court asked whether rules prohibit prayer spaces for all communities in government complexes. No final ruling has been made. The committee may respond to the Centre’s position before the next hearing on November 23. The dispute concerns the 1940 use agreement, the mosque’s history and worshippers’ access during redevelopment.
