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Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Bombay High Court Grants Religious Festival Permissions To Historic Kolhapur Dargah
The Bombay High Court has authorized the continuation of traditional religious observances at a historic dargah in Kolhapur, allowing animal slaughter during Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) and the annual Urs festival. The judicial decision came after the court expressed strong criticism toward government authorities for their failure to process the religious institution's application in a timely manner. Justices Dr. Neela Gokhale and Firdosh Poonawalla, presiding over Tuesday's proceedings, emphasized that their previous year's ruling had already established the legal framework for these religious celebrations. The bench pointed to their 2024 order that specifically permitted the dargah to conduct these significant Islamic observances. Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb's dargah, situated at the historically significant Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur, had approached the High Court through legal representatives Satish Talekar and Madhvi Ayappan. The petition outlined their submission of applications to multiple government authorities seeking permission for animal slaughter on June 5-6, 2025, coinciding with Eid al-Adha, and for the subsequent Urs festival scheduled from June 7-12. The legal challenge arose from administrative inaction, with petitioners asserting that despite timely submission of required documentation, authorities had failed to respond to their application. This bureaucratic delay threatened to disrupt religious observances that hold profound spiritual significance for the Muslim community associated with the dargah. The Urs festival represents a particularly important religious occasion, commemorating the death anniversary of Peer Saheb through elaborate three-day celebrations held twice annually. The primary observance occurs following Eid al-Adha in June, with a secondary celebration from January 12-14 each year. These events draw thousands of devotees who believe in the spiritual presence of Hazrat Peer Malik Saheb descending to earth at the dargah. Central to the festival's mystique is the renowned silver gate constructed near Peer Saheb's tomb, which according to centuries-old tradition, opens spontaneously on the first day of Urs without human intervention. This phenomenon is regarded by followers as a divine sign and forms a cornerstone of the religious observance's spiritual significance. The current legal proceedings stem from 2024 complications when authorities initially refused permission for both animal slaughter and Urs celebrations, prompting the dargah's management to seek judicial intervention. The High Court's subsequent ruling not only granted the requested permissions but also resulted in judicial censure of officials for misinterpreting the court's directives. Tuesday's ruling reaffirmed the continuing validity of the previous year's judicial decision, establishing precedent for future religious observances at the historic site. The court's stance reflects broader principles of religious freedom while emphasizing the importance of efficient administrative processing for legitimate religious requests. This decision underscores the judiciary's role in protecting religious practices while holding government authorities accountable for prompt and fair handling of applications related to constitutional rights. The ruling ensures that traditional Islamic observances can proceed without administrative impediments, maintaining the centuries-old religious traditions associated with this significant Kolhapur landmark.
Hans India
7 days ago
- General
- Hans India
High Court Approves Religious Festivities At Historic Kolhapur Shrine Following Administrative Delays
The Bombay High Court has granted permission for traditional religious observances at a historic Kolhapur shrine, allowing animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha and the annual Urs festival while sharply criticizing government officials for their sluggish response to the application. The judicial decision ensures that centuries-old religious traditions can continue without administrative interference. Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Firdosh Poonawalla, forming the presiding bench, emphasized that their court had previously authorized these religious celebrations in 2024, making the current approval a continuation of established judicial precedent. The judges expressed frustration with administrative authorities who failed to act promptly on the dargah's formal request for festival permissions. Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb's dargah, situated within the historic Vishalgad fort complex in Kolhapur, approached the High Court through legal representatives Satish Talekar and Madhvi Ayappan. The shrine's management had submitted comprehensive applications to various government departments requesting authorization for animal sacrifice on June 5-6, 2025, coinciding with Eid al-Adha, followed by the Urs festival scheduled from June 7-12. Despite submitting these applications well in advance, the petitioners argued that government authorities had remained unresponsive, creating uncertainty about the shrine's ability to conduct its traditional religious observances. This administrative inaction forced the dargah management to seek judicial intervention to ensure their constitutional right to practice religious customs. The annual Urs celebration holds profound spiritual significance for devotees, as it commemorates the death anniversary of Peer Saheb through elaborate three-day festivities held twice yearly. The first observance follows Eid al-Adha in June, while the second occurs from January 12-14 each year. According to religious tradition, followers believe that Hazrat Peer Malik Saheb's spirit descends to earth during these sacred occasions. The petition highlighted a remarkable aspect of the shrine's mystical reputation, noting that a silver gate constructed near Peer Saheb's tomb allegedly opens spontaneously on the first day of Urs without human intervention. This phenomenon adds to the festival's spiritual significance and draws numerous pilgrims to witness what believers consider a divine miracle. The court's decision builds upon the previous year's legal precedent, when authorities initially refused permission for the religious celebrations, prompting successful judicial intervention. The 2024 ruling not only authorized the festivities but also resulted in judicial criticism of officials who had misinterpreted the court's directives. The current ruling reaffirms that the previous judicial order remains applicable for this year's celebrations, ensuring continuity in religious practice while establishing clear legal guidelines for future observances.
India Today
7 days ago
- General
- India Today
Bombay High Court allows animal slaughter for Bakrid, Urs at Kolhapur dargah
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday allowed animal slaughter for Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) and the Urs festival at the dargah at Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur, while blasting government authorities for sitting on the bench, comprising Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Firdosh Poonawalla, pointed out that the court had already issued an order last year permitting the dargah to hold the Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb's dargah, located at Vishalgad fort in Kolhapur, approached the High Court through advocates Satish Talekar and Madhvi Ayappan, stating it submitted an application to multiple authorities seeking permission for animal slaughter on June 5 and 6, 2025, and for Urs from June 7 to 12. However, the authorities have still not acted upon the application, the petitioners year, Urs is celebrated at the dargah for three days, commemorating the death anniversary of Peer Saheb twice a year - once after Eid al-Adha in June and from January 12 to 14 each petition said the Urs festival was of great significance as followers believe that Hazrat Peer Malik Saheb descends to the Earth at the dargah. The silver gate constructed near the tomb of Peer Saheb miraculously opens up on its own on the first day of Urs, the plea 2024, the authorities refused to grant permission to the dargah for animal slaughter and the Urs, after which they approached the High court had permitted the dargah to hold the festivities and had later even pulled up the authorities for misinterpreting its bench on Tuesday said the earlier order of the court would be applicable for the festival of Bakrid and Urs this time as Watch IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra
