The Gurgaon administration on Tuesday rescinded permission to offer namaz at eight of the 37 "designated" prayer sites decided in the wake protests against offering prayers in 2018. The cancellation comes following "objections" from residents and warned that if similar "objections" were raised at other prayer sites, "permission will not be given there too", reports NDTV.

"Consent from the administration is necessary for namaz in any public and open place. If local people have objections at other places also, permission will not be given to offer namaz there too," Gurgaon authorities said. The sites are Bengali Basti (Sector 49), Block V of DLF Phase 3, Surat Nagar Phase 1 and an area near the DLF Square Tower on Jacaranda Marg, on the outskirts of the Kherki Majra and Daulatabad villages, near the Ramgarh village in Sector 68, and an area between Rampur village and Nakhrola Road. Namaz however can be offered at mosques or Eidgah (or open-air prayer sites), at a private space or a designated site – numbering only 29.

According to the administration, a committee formed by Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Yash Garg would hold parleys on choosing places for namaz. The committee comprises a Sub Divisional Magistrate, an Assistant Commissioner of Police and members of both religious organisations and civil society groups, “and will work, the administration said, towards ensuring local residents do not face any problem in offering prayers.”

The committee will also enforce strict measures to stop namaz on roads or public place and permission should be taken from locals before designating a prayer spot. The administration has appealed to religious communities to adhere to rules and all-inclusive security arrangements have been made by the police. Several residents and right wing groups have made objections to Friday namaz at public grounds. Last week around 30 people were arrested following protests against namaz offered at a private property.

"Locals staged a protest at Sector 47 for the fourth consecutive week by performing puja. Efforts are ongoing for a solution, including finding an alternate place for namaz," ACP Aman Yadav said adding, "Earlier also two rounds (of talks) were held under the chairmanship of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (Badshahpur). We are making efforts to find a solution and resolve the issue amicably," he added.

"The residents have shown us the list which was issued three years ago. We have to verify the list from our end also. If the ground had given to Muslim community for a single day, then the administration will take necessary action," ACP Yadav said.