The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Abdullah Bukhari and Delhi Wakf Board (DWB) on a petition seeking to restrain him from appointing his son Ahmed Bukhari as his successor without the concurrence of the board.

While directing Imam Bukhari and DWB to file their replies by November 22, the court said appointment of Ahmed Bukhari as Shahi Imam would be subject to the outcome of the petition.

Imam Bukhari's decision to appoint his son as Shahi Imam in his place on October 14, was challenged by advocate w a Ansari, a member of the WAKF board, on the ground that he had no right to take a unilateral decision in this regard as board concurrence was necessary under rules.
Ansari in a Public Interest Litigation said that Abdullah Bukhari was merely an employee of the WAKF board, and was appointed to the post of Imam in 1972 with a sole purpose of performing namaz (prayers) five times a day in the Jama Masjid.
He had no right to appoint any person to any post and as such his successor also, the petition said adding no such authority was delegated to him by the WAKF board.

While seeking direction to the WAKF bord to appoint some other person with clean image as Shahi Imam, Ansari alleged Abdullah Bukhari was misusing his position and had allowed commercial activities around the Jama Masjid. Bureau Report