Delhi High Court Criticizes Appeal Against Maharani of Jhansi Statue in Shahi Idgah Park

The Division Bench of the Delhi High Court criticized an appeal by the Shahi Idgah Management Committee against the installation of a statue of the Maharani of Jhansi in Shahi Idgah Park, located in Sadar Bazar, Delhi. The court labeled the appeal as politically motivated and cautioned against giving the issue a communal angle.

Judges’ Remarks

Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed, “We are talking about women empowerment, and she (Maharani of Jhansi) is a national hero. Don’t do communal politics from history. The petitioner is using communal politics.”

The bench suggested that the intent behind the petition appeared to be to stir communal politics through the court and directed the petitioner to submit an apology letter. Following these remarks, Senior Counsel for the petitioner withdrew the petition.

Previous Court Decision

Recently, a single bench of the Delhi High Court dismissed the plea opposing the installation of the Rani Lakshmi Bai statue in Shahi Idgah ground in Sadar Bazar. The court stated, “This Court does not see as to how their right to offer prayers or to perform any religious rights is being endangered in any manner.”

The court also mentioned that the status quo order passed by the Delhi Minority Commission was without jurisdiction.

Petitioner’s Plea

The petitioner committee, through its President Haji Shakir Dost Mohammad, had moved a plea to prevent the respondent DDA and others from encroaching upon the Waqf property, including Idgah Park, and restraining the installation of any statue or structure inside the park.

The bench noted that although there were concerns about a potential law-and-order situation, the court could not question the administrative decision of the MCD to relocate the statue.