Despite High Court's Reservations, Shahi Imam's Son Likely to be Anointed His Successor

New Delhi: One of India's top Muslim clerics has been asked by the Delhi High Court to explain his decision to pick his son as his successor.

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of India's largest mosque, the Jama Masjid, is meant to anoint his 19-year-old son as Vice-Imam on Saturday. The court said his move "has no legal sanctity" but did not cancel the ceremony; it has asked Mr Bukhari to explain his move by January 28.

Mr Bukhari had been challenged by a series of Public Interest Litigations which contend that the mosque is the property of the Delhi Wakf Board, which administers Muslim religious properties, and the Shahi Imam cannot unilaterally decide his successor.  

Wajeeh Shafiq, advocate of Waqf Board, told NDTV, "The Imam is an employee of the Waqf Board. The relationship between an employer and employee should be respected".

But despite the reservations of the Waqf Board and the explanation sought by the High Court, the ceremony is likely to take place at the historic Jama Masjid on Saturday.

Hundreds of posters congratulating the young man could be seen all over the Jama Masjid area.

A local resident, H Jamaluddin, told NDTV, "Shahi Imam Bukari's family have been Imams of Jama Masjid since this mosque came into being; the Waqf Board never raised the issue earlier. So why (are they raising the issue) now? We have faith in the young Imam".

The Bukharis have been the traditional custodians for almost 400 years of the Jama Masjid, since it was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century facing the Red Fort in the capital.

But the soon-to-be-anointed Imam refused to comment on the issue, telling NDTV, "Bade imam se puchiye" (ask the senior Imam).