NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking permission to conduct ‘Urs’ festival at a now demolished Dargah in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district from February 1 to February 3
A bench comprising BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, while rejecting the plea, took note of the submissions made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat authorities, saying that the unauthorised constructions across all religions were demolished lawfully after following the due process, News Nine reported.
The petitioner’s counsel said that the dargah has been demolished by the Gujarat authorities and a permission for conducting ‘Urs’ festival at the dargah, where the tradition was going on for last several years, was denied by the authorities.
Mehta told the bench that the land belongs to government and entire unauthorised constructions, including temples belonging to Hindus, have been demolished and no activities from any religion, including Hindu religion rituals, are being permitted on the said land which was under encroachment.
Mehta further said that a survey was conducted and no archaeological monument was found and that the petitioner cannot be granted relief, as the application by the petitioner has been filed in a contempt petition challenging breach of the top court order which said no demolitions were to be permitted without the permission of the court except the unauthorised construction on public lands.
“We do not find prayer can be granted without hearing main matter,” the bench said.
The top court had on January 27 said that it would hear after three weeks the pleas, including a contempt petition seeking contempt action against the Gujarat authorities for allegedly demolishing residential and religious structures in Gir Somnath district without its prior nod.
