The Supreme Court rejected a petition to stop the Maha Shivaratri puja at the Raghava Chaitanya Shivling in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district. The dargah management withdrew the plea filed under Article 32 after the court showed reluctance to consider it. Despite the property being declared a waqf property, third parties had been seeking permission for pujas through writ petitions in the Karnataka High Court.
Senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, representing the dargah management, argued against the interim orders by the Karnataka High Court allowing rituals like the upcoming Maha Shivaratri. The plea aimed to protect the waqf character of the dargah and prevent any interference with its religious nature. The Supreme Court, however, refused to entertain the writ petition directly filed under Article 32, stating it was not the appropriate course of action.
The shrine in question has historical significance, associated with Sufi saint Hazrat Shaikh Alauddin Ansari and Hindu saint Raghava Chaitanya. Both communities have traditionally worshipped at the site, but recent disputes have arisen over worship rights. Last year, during Maha Shivaratri, tensions flared, leading to legal interventions to regulate worship practices.
