Recently, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an application requesting permission to hold Urs at a Dargah allegedly located in the area, scheduled between February 1-3.

A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and SVN Bhatti issued the order while addressing petitions that sought contempt action against Gujarat authorities for the alleged demolition of Muslim religious and residential properties at Gir Somnath, in violation of the Court's order dated September 17, 2024.

During the hearing, as the Court suggested adjourning the matter, the applicant's counsel requested that the application be heard at an earlier date, highlighting that the Urs, to be held between February 1-3, is of great religious importance.

In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Gujarat, stated that he was unaware of the applicant's locus and noted that there was no Dargah at the specified site. He further emphasized that, following the Court's previous orders, the lands in question were now under government possession.

Ultimately, listing the application for January 31, the bench orally asked the SG to look into the issue.

Through the application, which is scheduled for hearing on January 31, petitioner Haji Mangrolisha asserts that Urs is an annual religious event, drawing thousands of devotees to the Dargah.

For many years, the authorities have granted permission for Urs, and this year, the petitioner (through its Mujavar) has applied for police permission. However, the District Collector has issued a notification under Section 163 BNS, prohibiting the entry of any individual into the premises of the Dargah.

The application further states that the District Collector's order has prevented the administrators from carrying out regular religious activities, such as lighting the premises and placing incense sticks, which were traditionally performed daily at the Dargah before its "illegal demolition."

Additionally, it is alleged that the Dargah contained historical inscriptions, gold ornaments, raw materials (such as oil cans and mounds of millet), and other items of historical, religious, and emotional significance, all of which were removed or destroyed during the demolition process.

As such, the act of the respondents in demolishing the Dargah was "not only an act of moral, religious and social attack" but also led to "financial exploitation of the funds donated in the name of the Petitioner Dargah", the petitioner states.

The application has been filed through Advocate-on-Record Pyoli.

The hearing has been set for January 31.