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Hans India
15 hours 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.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Ban sought on Urs & animal slaughter at Vishalgad
Kolhapur: A right-wing outfit in Kolhapur has demanded banning of Urs scheduled to take place at Vishalgad from June 8 to 12. They insisted that the state govt should appeal to the Supreme Court against Bombay High Court's decision to allow animal slaughter for Eid al-Adha or Bari Eid at a dargah at Vishalgad on June 7. Hindu Ekata Andolan workers held a protest outside Kolhapur's collector office on Wednesday. Nitin Shinde, former MLA and right-wing leader, said that the state govt, elected representatives, and officials had failed to present the facts before the court. "After our agitation last year, the state govt restricted the holding of Urs at the fort. There was also a ban on slaughtering of hens and goats, gambling, and consumption of liquor on the fort. However, suddenly the high court has allowed it. It is the failure of all the govt machinery, MPs, and MLAs. We want the state govt to immediately impose a ban on Urs and appeal to the Supreme Court for a stay on the high court order allowing slaughtering of animals," said Shinde. The delegation met the district authorities and told them that they will not allow any religious function at the fort. The centuries-old Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah is located on the fort. The trust that manages the dargah petitioned the High Court seeking permission to allow animal slaughter. The fort, built in the 11th century, is an ancient and historical monument. The court allowed the animal sacrifice around 1.4 km away from the fort on private land behind closed doors.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Nalwadi was architect of egalitarian society: Mandya DC
Mandya: Deputy commissioner Kumara on Wednesday referred to the Mysuru Maharaja, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, as the architect of an egalitarian society and social justice, who envisioned a fair society. The maharaja established the Backward Classes Commission and implemented reservations for the uplift of the backward communities, he stated. Speaking after the inauguration of the Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Jayanti celebration at the Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar auditorium, he said that the maharaja's contributions are such that future generations will continue to remember him. He served the people in a way that they remember him every day. Even during the British era, among nearly 600 princely states, he was a distinguished ruler. People from Mysuru, Mandya, and Hassan regions keep portraits of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in their homes and worshipped him. He expressed happiness that the maharaja was responsible for Mandya district becoming agriculturally dominant. It is also due to him that Bengaluru, now recognised globally as the Silicon City and the first Asian city to have electric streetlights, earned such reputations. Noticing his developmental works, Mahatma Gandhi honoured him with the title 'Rajashri' (Saintly King), he stated. Special pujas at royal cemetery Mysuru: As part of the 141st birth anniversary of Mysuru's king Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, special pujas were performed at Madhuvana, the royal cemetery, in the city on Wednesday. Mysuru Palace Board deputy director TS Subramanya, Urs community leader Amaranatha Raje Urs, Karnataka Senapade president Tejesh Lokesh Gowda, and others were present. They offered floral tribute to the Maharaja and recalled his contribution.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Bombay High Court permits animal sacrifice during Id, Urs at Vishalgad dargah
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) allowed animal sacrifice during Id and Urs (death anniversary of a Sufi saint) celebrations at a dargah located within the precincts of the Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. Permitting animal slaughter during the festivities, a Division Bench of Justices (Vacation Bench), Neela K. Gokhale and Firdosh P. Pooniwalla also placed certain conditions to comply with. The Bench was hearing an application by the Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb Dargah Trust, challenging a directive from the Deputy Director of Archaeology who had prohibited animal slaughter within the fort premises. The authorities cited that the ban was based on provisions of the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act that prohibits slaughtering of animals and birds on the premises of a protected monument. A 1998 Aurangabad Bench judgment prohibits public animal sacrifices. The Dargah Trust argued that the practice of animal sacrifice is an age-old practice going on the private land that is 1.4 km away from the fort and that the meat from sacrifice is distributed among the pilgrims and villagers. The vacation Bench said, 'Considering the fact that a coordinate Bench has passed an order on June 14, 2024, and has already dealt with the issue and has permitted the prayer of the present IA, the same shall continue during the forthcoming festival of Id which is on June 7 and the Urs from June 8 to June 12.' Disposing of the trust's application, the Bench observed, 'Needless to state, the same conditions which have been imposed in the June 14, 2024 order shall apply to the petitioners in the present interim application and also to devotees of dargah who come to sacrifice animals during Id and Urs. The conditions imposed on June 14, 2024, order shall be strictly complied with.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
HC allows animal slaughter for Bakri Eid and Urs at Vishalgad
Mumbai: The Bombay high court vacation bench on Tuesday allowed animal slaughter for Eid al-Adha, or Bakri Eid, at a dargah at Vishalgad fort in Kolhapur but set out conditions that it directed should be strictly complied with. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The conditions include that the killing of animals or birds shall only take place inside closed premises — a private land owned by one Mubarak Usman Mujawar — and no slaughter should be done in an open or public place. The court permitted animal slaughter for Bakri Eid on June 7 and the four-day Urs from June 8 to 12 at the dargah of Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb within the fort. The vacation bench of Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla, hearing an interim application filed by Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah Trust, which sought permission to conduct the animal slaughter, stated its order would also apply to dargah devotees who come there to sacrifice animals for Eid. The trust filed a petition challenging various letters sent by the director of archaeology and museums to the superintendent of police, Kolhapur, and the chief executive officer of the Kolhapur Zilla Parishad for a ban on the slaughtering of animals and birds at Vishalgad in Shahuwadi Taluka. The fort, built in the 11th century, is an ancient and historical monument, said the authorities. The trust's advocate, S B Talekar, said the dargah is within the fort and the actual sacrifice does not take place in a public place but behind closed doors on private land nearly 1.4 km away from the fort. On June 14 last year, the high court division bench of Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Pooniwalla allowed animal slaughter during Bakri Eid and Urs at the dargah. "Considering the fact that the coordinate bench of this court in order dated June 14, 2024, already dealt with the issue and permitted the prayer, the same shall continue for the festival of Bakri Eid, which is on June 7, and the Urs for four days from June 8 to 12. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Needless to state, the same conditions, which were imposed in the June 14, 2024 order, shall apply to the petitioners in the present interim application and also to devotees of the dargah who come to sacrifice animals during Bakri Eid and Urs. The conditions imposed in the June 14, 2024 order shall be strictly complied with," the vacation bench noted in the order and disposed of the trust's application. Lakhs of devotees, followers, and others visit the dargah on the first day of Urs, said the dargah trust.
