Restore temples razed to build mosque within Qutub Minar complex: Petition in Delhi court

A civil suit has been filed before Delhi’s Saket Court alleging that the 'Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid' situated within the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli was built in place of a temple complex.

The plea, filed on behalf of Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and Hindu deity Lord Vishnu (through their next of friends), seeks restoration of the alleged temple complex, comprising of as many as 27 temples.

Civil Judge Neha Sharma fixed the next date of hearing on December 24, legal news website Live Law has reported.

The plea has alleged that 27 Hindu and Jain temples were dismantled, desecrated and damaged under the command of Mughal emperor Qutub-Din-Aibak, who raised some construction at the same very place of temples naming it as, 'Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque'.

It is submitted that the Mughal ruler failed to completely demolish the existing temples and only partial demolition was carried out and after reusing the material of the temples, the said mosque was erected.

It is pointed out that the petitioner's version is also supported by a short history displayed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which narrates that the 27 temples were demolished and reusing the materials of demolished temples the construction of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was raised.

The petitioners have thus urged the court to decree the suit in nature of declaration, declaring that deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and deity Lord Vishnu, along with Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, Goddess Gauri, God Sun, Lord Hanuman including presiding deities of 27 temples, have right to be restored and worshiped with rites & rituals, performance of regular pooja within the temple complex situated in the area of Qutub Complex in Mehruli.