New Delhi: The Delhi High Court sharply criticised Save India Foundation for filing repeated public interest petitions focused on mosques and dargahs in the national capital. The court said the organisation misused the PIL mechanism and questioned its narrow focus.
A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia expressed displeasure during the hearing. The bench noted a visible pattern in the petitions. The Chief Justice said the organisation appeared to flag only one category of religious structure while ignoring other civic concerns.
The court pointed to pressing public issues such as access to clean water and hunger. The bench said repeated PIL filings on similar grounds disturbed the court and diverted attention from wider social problems. The Chief Justice questioned the intent behind weekly petitions targeting religious sites.
The court listed two PILs from Save India Foundation during the hearing. One petition related to Jama Masjid and Madarsa Giri Nagar. The petitioner alleged encroachment on government land described as green and secular.
Advocate Umesh Chandra Sharma represented the organisation. He told the court complaints existed earlier and authorities took no action against the mosque. Advocate Sameer Vashisht appeared for the Delhi government. He said local authorities treated the structure as an encroachment.
Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose appeared for the Delhi Waqf Board. He said the mosque held notified status. He added the Delhi Development Authority took part in land demarcation. Ghose also referred to earlier court observations which flagged a pattern of petitions aimed at religious structures from one community.
After hearing arguments, the court said it would hear the matter again on January 21.
