New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the Aam Aadmi Party government and the Delhi Waqf Board to respond to a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the policy of paying salaries to Imams and Muezzins with government funds. The next hearing for this case is scheduled for July 22.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora raised concerns during the hearing, suggesting that providing assistance to one religious institution could pave the way for similar requests from others. The bench emphasized the importance of equality among all institutions and expressed apprehensions about the potential implications of preferential treatment. Additionally, the bench highlighted the secular nature of the state and referenced the significant role played by religious institutions across India, citing historical and economic perspectives.
The Finance Department of the Delhi Government was also made a party to the case, with all parties instructed to respond within four weeks. Petitioner lawyer Rukmani Singh argued that the Delhi government's policy contradicts the principles of secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution, as it favors individuals of a particular religion.
Senior advocate Saurabh Kripal, representing the petitioner, contended that the policy violates various articles of the Constitution by showing favoritism towards a specific religious group. He emphasized the need for impartiality in distributing taxpayer funds and cited a previous decision by the Calcutta High Court, which led to the cessation of a similar scheme implemented by the West Bengal government. Kripal further pointed out that approximately Rs 10 crore annually was allocated to Imams and Muezzins, even extending to individuals unaffiliated with the Waqf Board.
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