MCD counsel submitted to the court that the civic authorities have appointed a consultant for overseeing the re-development work.

The court was hearing a public interest petition filed by Heritage and Cultural Forum, an NGO run by lawyer Usha Kumar, seeking re-development work at the historic mosque.

The 17th century mosque has not been declared a protected monument so far, though the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have included it in their lists of protected monuments, the petition said.

However, the Waqf Board opposed the petition on the point of declaring the monument a protected one, saying that it would hurt the religious sentiments of those who visit it to offer prayers as the ASI does not allow offering prayers inside a protected monument.

On Oct 6, 2006, the court had approved all plans and the estimated cost for the work.

The civic agency had also launched a website providing all information regarding the re-development plan of the mosque so that the entire process could be transparent.