Maintain status quo at illegal mosque site near Red Fort: SC

The Supreme Court today directed all parties to maintain status quo till Thursday at a park near the Red Fort where an unauthorised mosque was allegedly built by a local MLA and his supporters over the purported ruins of a Mughal-era Akbarabadi mosque.

"Till Thursday all parties are directed to maintain status quo on the site in question," a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said.

The bench also comprising Justice SS Nijjar and Justice J Chelameswar said it would like to hear the views of all the parties, including the Archaeological Society of India (ASI), the Delhi government and the Centre before going into the details.

"We would like to hear the views of ASI, Delhi government and the Union of India and thereafter, we will go into the details," it said.

The bench was hearing an appeal filed by MLA Shoaib Iqbal, who is facing contempt proceedings in the Delhi High Court for trespassing and building mosque on the government land.

He has moved the apex court challenging the high court's July 30 order directing the ASI and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to demolish the structure.