The Supreme Court did not listen to the demand to stop Mahashivratri worship at Ladle Mashayak Dargah in Kalaburagi, Karnataka. The bench of Justices Dipankar Dutta and Satish Chandra Sharma raised questions as to why this petition was filed directly in the Supreme Court. Considering the stand of the court, the lawyer of petitioner Khalil Ansari withdrew the petition.
Ansari had filed this petition as secretary on behalf of the Dargah Committee. The committee had demanded that worship should not be allowed in the Dargah premises. He said that through this an attempt is being made to change the religious nature of the Dargah. The petitioner’s argument was that in the last few years, puja is being performed there on Shivratri as per the order of the High Court. Apart from this, efforts are being made to change the appearance of the place by obtaining various interim orders from the court.
What did the Chief Justice comment?
Even when the matter was placed before the bench headed by the Chief Justice on Wednesday, the judges had raised questions on filing the petition directly in the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice had said, ‘Nowadays why is every case coming directly to the Supreme Court under Article 32? This sends a message as if the High Courts have become inactive. Now the bench hearing the case has also said that the petitioner should present his views in the High Court.
What is the controversy?
This place, also known as Aland Dargah, is said to be associated with the 14th century Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Alauddin Ansari. Whereas the Hindu side says it is related to the 15th century saint Raghav Chaitanya. There is also a Shivalinga in the complex which is called Raghav Chaitanya Shivalinga. In 2022, there was communal violence here over the right to worship. In 2025, the Karnataka High Court had given permission to 15 people to perform puja from 2 to 6 pm amid tight security.