The Supreme Court is set to review a plea requesting a halt to the Maha Shivaratri puja at the Raghava Chaitanya Shivling in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district. The dargah management, represented by senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, sought Chief Justice of India’s attention to list the matter before February 15, the day of the festival.
During the discussion, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant raised concerns about petitions directly reaching the apex court without approaching the High Court first. He questioned the trend of resorting to Article 32 for such matters, hinting at a possible consideration for urgent listing.
The shrine in question, located within the Laadle Mashaik Dargah, has historical significance as it is linked to the 14th-century Sufi saint Hazrat Shaikh Alauddin Ansari and the 15th-century Hindu saint Raghava Chaitanya. Both communities have traditionally offered prayers at the site, but recent disputes have arisen over worship rights and the site’s religious identity.
The plea aims to stop the Maha Shivaratri puja at the dargah and prevent any alterations that could impact the site’s religious character. It alleges that interim orders allowing Hindu worship inside the dargah are part of a larger effort to change the site’s religious nature.
