The Delhi High Court criticized the Save India Foundation on Wednesday for its repeated filing of public interest litigation (PIL) petitions concerning alleged encroachments by mosques and dargahs in the national capital. The court deemed the organization’s actions as a misuse of its jurisdiction, as reported by Bar and Bench.
A Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, expressed its disapproval, noting that the foundation appeared to be focusing exclusively on one type of religious structure. “Do you see only one kind of encroachment? We do not appreciate this. You are misusing the court’s process. Every week you go around the city, find some religious structure, and file a PIL,” Chief Justice Upadhyaya remarked.
He emphasized the existence of numerous societal issues deserving attention, questioning the foundation’s selective focus. “Are you seeking your name in the Guinness Book of World Records? You do not see any other ill in society? People who do not get clean water, people who are starving, none of that is seen by you? You only see encroachments? Please do not misuse PILs like this. These petitions disturb us,” he stated.
The court discussed two PILs brought by Save India Foundation, one concerning Jama Masjid and Madarsa Giri Nagar. The petitioner alleged that the structure had encroached upon “green, secular” government land. Advocate Umesh Chandra Sharma, representing the foundation, claimed prior complaints had gone unaddressed.
In contrast, advocate Sameer Vashisht, representing the Delhi government, informed the court that local authorities recognized the structure as an encroachment. Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose, representing the Delhi Waqf Board, countered that the mosque was a recognized structure, with the Delhi Development Authority involved in the land demarcation.
Ghose also highlighted that a previous observation by a single judge of the High Court noted a pattern in the petitions filed by Save India Foundation, indicating that they predominantly targeted religious structures of one specific community.
After deliberation, the court scheduled the next hearing for January 21.
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