Delhi HC raps police for not allowing residents to stay in Nizamuddin Markaz
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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court slammed the Delhi Police while urging them to hand over the keys of the residential portion at the Nizamuddin Markaz to the mother of Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Muhammad Saad, Khalida.
The Court observed that one of the Sections under which the case against the Markaz has been registered was Section 60 (Indian Evidence Act) which did not preclude anyone from living in their place. The court also asked the mother to not enter any other portion of the Markaz until further orders.
The Markaz, which includes a mosque, a Madrassa, and the residential area, has been locked since reporting the COVID cases from there after a Tablighi Jamaat congregation last year.
The court reminded the police that it could not just lock an entire area in the pretext of preserving a site, citing that the case against the Markaz Nizamuddin was only that the people were residing there. The court found it inappropriate to make people who used to reside there find shelter somewhere while their houses have been locked.
Khalida had petitioned against the sealing of the residential portion of the Markaz in a lower court which allowed her to live in the area. But a sessions court stayed the magisterial order after the police challenged it. She then now approached the HC for the opening of the residential portion of the premises.