Delhi HC Issues Notice to NDMC: The Delhi High Court on Friday, (November 06) urged the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) about discontinuing the electricity and water supply to the Race Course Masjid without prior notice. It stated that essential services cannot be cut off without following certain procedures and asked the civic body and Delhi Waqf Board to respond.
The division bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Renu Bhatnagar was hearing an appeal by the Imam of the Mosque Mohammed Haroon seeking to overturn a previous single judge order which refused him justice to resume the supply.
Both the NDMC and Delhi Waqf Board have been served notices and asked to respond within 2 weeks. The case will be heard again on December 14, 2026.
In the hearing the bench queried NDMC about their decision to cut off essential utilities.
“The electricity and water supply to the mosque was cut off on October 7, 2026 without any notice, hearing or order,” said counsel for the Imam, Advocate M Sufian Siddiqui.
The appeal stated that the mosque has been properly notified as being a Waqf Property and the cutting off of essential services cannot be justified based on any court cases regarding the clearing of slums.
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The cutting of supplies happened as demolition work was being carried out.
The NDMC had previously objected to the reconnection of supplies as they were still carrying out the demolition and it could pose a risk to people entering the area.
The issue is linked to the Centre’s attempt to reclaim land in the area including the Delhi Race Club, Jaipur Polo Ground and surrounding areas.
Approximately 700 families from surrounding slum areas were affected by the evictions but were relocated to Savda Ghevra. However, the mosque itself has now become an issue.
The Race Course Masjid is situated on the approximately 53 acre land of the Race Course Club and is close to the Prime Ministers residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
The Delhi Waqf Board have stated the Mosque is a notified Waqf Property. They stated it was notified in the Delhi Administration’s Official Gazette on September 8, 1977.
It was also recognised as a Grade-II Heritage site in 2009.
The Mosque was connected to electricity in 1976. The Waqf board had previously written to the authorities requesting to reconnect electricity and water as they had been legally connected for decades.
This hearing follows another key date on October 29. On this day the Land and Development Office (L&DO) representing the centre informed the Delhi High Court they would make a decision on a representation made by the Delhi Waqf Board within 4 weeks.
They also assured the court that No Coercive Action would take place within this time-frame. The latest proceedings on November 6 have highlighted the discontinuation of essential services.
The NDMC and Delhi Waqf Board have been asked to respond within 2 weeks and will be heard again on December 14, 2026. However no final order has been made by the court to reconnect the electricity and water.
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