The Delhi High Court bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar on May 29 ordered the Delhi government to follow up on the eviction order issued by the Delhi Waqf Board to over 900 of their properties all over Delhi.

Graveyards have been encroached upon and have become living quarters, and the government has not been able to take action against the encroachers. The Waqf Board has approached the court.

On May 29, the counsel for the Waqf Board (petitioner) started the arguments by submitting that the government of Delhi is not complying with the eviction order, which was passed under Section 54 of the Delhi Waqf Act.

The board pointed out that the government has not been able to enforce the board’s order.

The court ordered that the government shall file the status report regarding the enforcement of the eviction order and Delhi Waqf Board shall assist the concerned SDM and DCP in the enforcement of the order.

The court also ordered that the government shall make sure that the requisite order will be enforced. The status report shall be filed within eight weeks.

In issuing the order, the bench told the government: “The graveyard has been converted into residential property, and you are not taking any action. Law has to be complied with by everybody. You do your job don’t make excuses in the court.”

The matter was adjourned for August 8.

—India Legal Bureau