Delhi HC directs Wakf board to reappoint Imam

The Delhi High court directed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Wakf board to appoint Maulana Mohammad Ibrahim Quasim, the former Imam of Janpath mosque, as the head priest of Karol Baghs Naiwala Mosque with immediate effect.

Justice Vipin Sanghi directed CEO Mohammad Ali Ashraf to provide the Imam with appropriate accommodation having water and electricity connection. The Court also asked him to compensate Maulana Quasim for not providing him with accommodation since November 2004.

The Maulana is now entitled to get Rs 1000 per month from November 2004 till he gets the accommodation. This will be paid in addition to the salary received by him ,the court said.

Mr K G Kocchar, lawyer of Maulana Quasim, told the court that in 2004 he was transferred to Mehrauli from Janpath Mosque, where he had worked for 14 years. However, since an Imam was already there, he was posted to Paharganj and later to other places.

Maulana Quasim has not been assigned any job till now on one pretext or the other, the lawyer said. He argued that the Imam was being thrown from one place to another without verifying the vacancy of the post. Moreover, no house rent was being paid to him since then.

Mr Zafar Sadiq, lawyer for the Wakf Board contented they were ready to pay the future house rent. However, as the financial condition of the Wakf board was not sound, it would be burdensome for them to pay the retrospect rent.

The court, however, refused to accept the Wakf Board’s plea and directed them to post the Imam suitably with immediate effect.