To,

Chief Architect
New Delhi Municipal Council,
Palika Kendra, Parliament Street,
New Delhi - 110 001.
Email: chief.architect@ndmc.gov.in

Subject: Objections to proposed demolition of Sunehri Masjid.

Dear Mr. Chief Architect,

I am writing this letter in response to your invitation of objections and suggestions on

removal of Sunehri Masjid, a historical place of worship to ensure sustainability of traffic in
the vicinity of the roundabout of Sunehri Bagh which is also a Grade III Heritage Building
listed vide Notification F. No. 4/2/2009/UD/l 6565 dated 01.10.2009.

This mosque is a religious site where approximately 200 people on a daily basis and about
500 people on Friday come to offer Jumua’h Namaz, most of whom are well aware of its
historical significance. These worshippers comprise mainly those working in Lutyens Delhi.
This is also a designated heritage site. The style of architecture having Bangla Roof was
famous in the late Mughal era and is present in the mosque as of today. It is a fact that this
mosque is older than the NDMC and Lutyens Delhi as we know it today. During the planning
and construction of Lutyens Delhi in 1912, a survey was done between Purana Qila and
Raisina Hills and a map was prepared (Annexure - I). It was dotted with old buildings, some
ruined and abandoned, and some being places of worship still in use. This map, created in
1912, shows some of those old buildings, and the Sunehri Masjid which is circled in blue,
located beside what was then called Qutub Road. The garden was called Hakim Ji ka Bagh
and Sunehri Bagh.

This map was drawn out in order to decide on which of the buildings present at that time
could be demolished to clear the path of construction of New Delhi. Many structures
including tombs and mosques were demolished but some remained. The Sunehri Masjid is
amongst the structures that has survived till date. Looking at its architectural significance and
use, the then town planner decided to incorporate it into the town planning by replacing it in
one of the many roundabouts in the upcoming city.

Historical Significance of Sunehri Bagh Mosque:

1. The Sunehri Masjid is a two storey Mughal era mosque located in the heart of
Lutyens Delhi. It is a unique specimen of mediaeval architecture as unlike most
mediaeval structures the Sunehri Mosque does not have any grand domes but only a
modest Bangla dome and four minarets.

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 2. Its architectural elements are typical of the period - Lakhori brick masonry, sandstone
flooring, and the quintessential vaulted roof of brick. However, its history is not
merely contained within its walls; it extends to the annals of India’s freedom struggle.

3. This mosque also played an important role in India’s fight against the British. It is
here that Maulana Hasrat Mohani, a stalwart of India’s freedom struggle, chose to
live, departing from his official residence as a Member of Parliament, upholding the
ideals of Inquilab Zindabad and Purna Swaraj (complete independence). He was a
figure synonymous with the radical demand for complete independence from colonial
rule. His resolution for Purna Swaraj at the Congress Session of 1931 marked a
pivotal moment in India’s history, shifting the goalpost from autonomy to absolute
freedom.

4. The mosque is one of the few structures that was not demolished but incorporated in
the plans for the capital city of New Delhi in 1912. This was done partly due to its
historical and architectural significance but mainly because it was still used by the
general public of Delhi.

5. Thus, the mosque predates the New Delhi Municipal Council as well as Lutyens Delhi
and is not amongst the structures that have encroached the land of Lutyens Delhi, but
the other way around.

While it is very important to develop sustainable mobility solutions and relieve the public of
long travel times, it is equally important that such developments and progress be bent around
our heritage. There are numerous examples both local and global where modern urban
planning has been successfully integrated with historical preservation, ensuring that
development and conservation go hand in hand.

Legal Objections:

1. The Delhi High Court in its Order W.P. (C) 8988/2023 and C.M. APPL. 34086/2023
dated 13.12.2023, instructed at maintaining the status quo of the structures.

2. Furthermore the mosque is a Grade III protected monument under Delhi Development
Authority Act, 1962.

3. The mosque is also a Waqf property. Once a Waqf property is always a Waqf property.
Section 104 (A) of Wakf Act, 1955, added by Wakf (Amendment)Act, 2013, says:

“Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time
being in force or any waqf deed, no person shall sell, gift, exchange, mortgage
or transfer any movable or immovable property which is a waqf property to
any other person.”

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 Section 104 (B) (2) of the Wakf Act reads, “The Government agency may, if the
property is required for a public purpose, make an application for determination of
the rent, or as the case may be, the compensation, by the Tribunal at the prevailing
market value.”.

It is clearly specified that if the Government wants to use a property, it has to make an
application in this regard to decide the rent or compensation.

4. A similar incident happened during the reign of the former Prime Minister, the Late
Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The Masjid Irwin Road located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg was
served notice for its demolition as a result of urban development and road expansion.
The intezamia committee of the mosque wrote a letter to the Prime Minister and
stated that the mosque was older than New Delhi. They stated that the road had taken
the place of the mosque and not the other way around. Hence, the road could not be
expanded further by demolishing the mosque. As a result, the notice of demolition
was taken back.

5. Many agreements were made between the Muslim representatives and Governor
General of India to transfer 42 mosques and graveyards between 1942 to 1945. The
documents of these agreements are available in the Land and Development Office,
Government of India and Delhi Waqf Board. The Sunehri Masjid was among the
structures that were a part of the agreements. (Annexure - II)

Furthermore, proceeding with such actions will set a dangerous precedent for future
demolition drives and thus lead to a destruction of other historical and heritage buildings in
and around the historic city of Delhi.

Suggested Alternatives:

Instead of demolishing the mosque it is suggested that alternative solutions be explored to

address the traffic concerns in the vicinity. This can be done by adopting a preservation based
approach that integrates the heritage building into the proposed traffic engineering plan. This
could involve expert architectural and engineering solutions to maintain the structural
integrity while addressing traffic needs.

Several engineering options and alternatives can be considered to address traffic concerns at
the roundabout of Sunehri Bagh for preserving Sunehri Masjid. Some of them are as listed
below:

1. Adaptive reuse or careful integration of the structure into the traffic engineering plan
could help preserve both the heritage and address the traffic issues effectively.

2. Employing advanced data analytics to analyse traffic patterns, identify bottlenecks

and optimise traffic management strategies by conducting a comprehensive traffic

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 engineering study to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of these engineering
alternatives.

3. Using advanced parking solutions to efficiently manage vehicle parking in the vicinity
and prevent congestion caused by improper parking so that there is no parked cars
induced jams in the area

4. Employing advanced modern traffic control systems to control the traffic as these
systems adjust traffic signal timings based on real-time traffic conditions and demand.

5. Introducing underpasses or overpasses that allow traffic to flow smoothly while

avoiding any direct interaction with Sunehri Masjid.

6. Road widening and realignment options can be explored for widening the existing
roads by realigning them to provide additional lanes and improve traffic movement.

Conclusion:

The Sunehri Mosque is a Grade III heritage building. All such heritage buildings should be
protected. The 1972 United Nations Conference in Stockholm stressed that the economic
development model based on growth in consumption and overdevelopment in several
developing countries cannot be a sustainable process and can have irreversible effects on the
ecosystem and heritage. Development without preserving the past is not development but
destruction.

Whenever heritage was built between the development of a modern city, many European
cities took an alternative and sustainable route. A prime example in this regard is the Puerta
de Alcalá, a Neo-classical gate in the Plaza de la Independencia in Madrid, Spain. It stands as
it used to and has been made a part of the main highway. Looking at the historical
significance that it holds, the authorities decided to beautify, preserve and use it like a
roundabout. (Annexure - III)

Therefore, it is essential to consider alternative proposals that would address the traffic
related concerns as well as the preservation of the historic Sunehri Masjid. It is extremely
important to explore these potential solutions as they would serve both the growing
infrastructural needs of Delhi and the preservation of its cultural sites.

In 2015, a proposal was being prepared by the Government to declare Delhi as a Heritage
Capital City. Destroying heritage sites such as the Sunehri Masjid will send a negative
message to heritage cities of the future. Delhi today is what it is because of its history and
preserving it serves as a path to our future. It is important to note that one has to know where
one comes from in order to go where one intends to.

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 Annexure - I

A survey report of the area between Purana Qila and Raisina Hills.

A map of Lutyens Delhi.

 Annexure - II

List of Mosques and Graveyards transferred to Muslims after the

Agreements between 1942 and 1945.
 Annexure - III

Puerta de Alcalá, Pl. de la Independencia, s/n, Retiro, 28001 Madrid, Spain.

(A pin of the exact location of the structure and its surroundings

has been provided for reference.)