"I announce Shaban Bukhari as the Naib Imam of Jama Masjid. I hope that he will live up to the expectations," Syed Ahmed Bukhari said during the ceremony.
The 19-year-old Shaban Bukhari, who is pursuing his bachelor's degree in social work at Amity University, is now in line to become the Shahi Imam of the country's largest mosque.
The Delhi High court on Friday has said the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari to annoint his son as his successor has no legal sanctity.
However, the court refused to stay the ceremony.
A bench of chief justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said the function is not legal and will not give any "special equities" in their (Imam's) favour.
The bench issued notice to and sought responses of the Centre, Wakf Board and Bukhari on the three PILs challenging the Imam's decision to appoint his son as the Naib Imam.
The court also questioned the Board why it has not taken any action against Bukhari till date.
Earlier, the Centre had said that the Mughal-era mosque Jama Masjid is a Wakf property and it has to decide how the rule of primogeniture applies on anointment of new Shahi Imam, which has come under challenge.
Archaeological Survey of India had also requested the court to declare the city's Jama Masjid as an ancient monument because of its national importance while contending that it needs to be protected.
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