A lower court in Ajmer on Wednesday postponed its hearing on a significant application that seeks to halt the traditional offering of a 'chadar' (cloth) by the Prime Minister, chief ministers, and other ministers during the upcoming Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The court will now take up the matter again on Thursday.
Legal Proceedings and Security Concerns
The hearing, which initially commenced on December 10, saw heightened security measures within the courtroom premises. This was due to the presence of Vishnu Gupta, the national president of the Hindu Sena organization. Gupta is the petitioner who filed a lawsuit back in November of last year.
In his suit, Gupta has made a contentious claim that the revered Ajmer dargah has been constructed over the site of an ancient Shiva temple. Based on this claim, he has urged the central government to order a detailed survey of the location by the appropriate authorities.
Arguments from Both Sides
During the proceedings, the legal representatives for the government, the dargah committee, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) presented counter-arguments against Gupta's claims. They maintained that the lawsuit filed by the Hindu Sena chief is not legally tenable and lacks any substantial, concrete evidence to support its allegations.
While this primary lawsuit is still pending before the court, Gupta recently filed an additional application seeking an immediate stay on the 'chadar' offerings. He expressed concern that the news and visuals of government representatives, including the Prime Minister, participating in the ritual would influence public perception.
Petitioner's Stance on Public Perception
Speaking to the media after the hearing on Wednesday, Vishnu Gupta clarified his position. "The widespread news coverage surrounding the 'chadar' offerings by high-ranking officials weakens my claim about a Shiva temple existing beneath the Ajmer dargah in the eyes of the common public," Gupta stated. "Therefore, I am seeking urgent judicial intervention in this specific matter to prevent this."
Upcoming Urs and Tradition
The annual Urs, which pays homage to the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, is scheduled to take place soon. As per tradition, the offering of the Prime Minister's 'chadar' is expected to occur on December 22. Last year, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju attended the dargah as the representative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveying his message of peace and goodwill to the thousands of devotees gathered for the event.
The court's decision on the stay application, now expected on Thursday, will determine whether this long-standing tradition continues this year with official government participation or faces an unprecedented legal hurdle.
