The court directs district officials, temple authorities and police not to remove, shift or alter Hazrat Syed Tajuddin Khaja Bagh Sawar Dargah
NEW DELHI — In a significant interim relief for Muslim community, the Telangana High Court has restrained authorities from taking any steps to remove, shift or alter the 800-year-old Hazrat Syed Tajuddin Khaja Bagh Sawar Dargah, located within the premises of the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple in Vemulawada town of Rajanna-Sircilla district.
The court directed officials not to initiate any coercive action against the historic shrine and made it clear that no demolition, relocation or structural alteration shall be carried out.
Petition Challenges Fencing and Restrictions
The order was passed on Thursday (February 26) while hearing a petition filed by Mohammad Nazim, who challenged what he termed illegal fencing, barricading and restrictions imposed around the dargah by authorities.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Zeeshan Adnan Mahmood submitted that the dargah has coexisted alongside the temple for over eight centuries and represents the region’s shared cultural and religious history.
He told the bench that the recent fencing and barricading had restricted access to the shrine and led to tension in the area. He argued that such measures were taken without proper legal authority.
Allegations of Relocation Attempt
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that certain officials, including the District Collector and the Executive Officer of the temple, had allegedly discussed relocating the dargah.
He contended that any such move would amount to disturbing a centuries-old tradition and communal harmony. The counsel further argued that the mutawalli (caretaker) of the dargah does not possess the legal authority to consent to relocation, asserting that such powers rest solely with the Telangana State Waqf Board under the law.
Court Records Assurances
Taking note of the submissions, the High Court recorded the assurances given by the District Collector of Rajanna-Sircilla, the temple’s Executive Officer and the Superintendent of Police.
The bench directed that no coercive steps be taken and categorically stated that there shall be no removal, demolition, shifting or alteration of the dargah structure until further orders.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Believed to date back to the 12th century, the Hazrat Syed Tajuddin Khaja Bagh Sawar Dargah is situated within the temple complex in Vemulawada, a town known for its religious importance.
For generations, residents say, the presence of both the temple and the dargah within the same premises has symbolised coexistence and mutual respect between communities.
Members of the Muslim community welcomed the court’s intervention, describing it as a step toward safeguarding religious freedom and protecting the site’s historical legacy.
The matter is expected to come up for further hearing. For now, the centuries-old dargah remains protected under judicial directions, with the court emphasising that any administrative action affecting religious sites must strictly adhere to due legal process.
