Hyderabad, Jan. 29 -- The Telangana High Court has ordered the state government not to create "third-party interests" at the Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute (AKAORI) in Hyderabad, a day after it prevented the Telangana Minorities Welfare Department from taking over the premises, and ordered a status quo noting that the premises was sealed and therefore not open to the public for offering namaz.

The Minorities Welfare Department had issued a memo to take over the premises for the purpose of offering namaz as the Shahi Masjid is adjacent to it. Both the mosque and the research institute are located in the Public Gardens. The AKAORI premises have been leased to the institute by the state government.

After the memo was sent, Tel...