The issue
In Raghubir Nagar, West Delhi, a mosque known as Ahle Islam Jama Masjid, located opposite Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital, stood on land that documentary records indicated had been acquired by government for public purposes and earmarked for planned development including a hospital.
This was not established through visual inspection alone. It was established through a two-year documentary investigation.
What we uncovered
Save India Foundation obtained records from three major public agencies:
- Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
- Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB)
The records showed that the relevant land had been acquired in 1961 and subsequently allotted for planned development, including a hospital. Most importantly, DUSIB provided RTI replies dated 22 April 2024 and 6 June 2025 stating that no allotment had been made for a mosque at the relevant site.
Government action before court
Following a complaint by Save India Foundation to the Delhi Government's Special Task Force on 18 May 2024, DUSIB referred the matter to MCD. MCD subsequently sought police assistance to inspect what it described as an “unauthorised religious structure” on public land. Officials inspected the site in August 2024.
Legal intervention
With no effective removal action forthcoming, Save India Foundation approached the Delhi High Court. The petition highlighted the alleged encroachment's impact on a public footpath and access around the hospital.
On 29 October 2025, the Delhi High Court directed DUSIB to deal with the complaint “with expedition.” The Court directed the agency to first determine ownership and, if the structure was unauthorised, take appropriate legal action for its removal.
Impact
The intervention converted a disputed land-use issue into a documented, court-supervised administrative process. The case also established an important documentary trail: acquisition records, allotment documents, RTI responses, government correspondence and inspection records.
This fight has been backed under Project Matribhoomi.
SUCCESS: A government plot documented as being earmarked for public purposes and a hospital was brought under judicial scrutiny after years of administrative inaction.
