The Bombay High Court's Kolhapur bench has issued an interim injunction preventing the Panhala Giristhan Nagar Parishad from demolishing two 15th-century Muslim religious shrines — the Hazrat Peer Shahbuddin Khatavali Dargah and the Hazrat Peer Sadhu Khatal Dargah — located in Panhala.
The bench, comprising Justice Madhav Jamdar and Justice Pravin S Patil, directed all respondents to file affidavits in reply, particularly in light of the arguments presented by the petitioner's counsel, Yuvraj Narvankar. Narvankar contended that the dargahs have existed since the 15th century and are documented in the Bombay Gazette. The court set a deadline of June 15, 2026, for filing these affidavits and scheduled the next hearing for July 6.
Background of the Case
The Panhala hill station civic body had issued a notice under Sections 52 and 53 of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act, which pertain to unauthorized development and the power to demolish such structures. This action was based on a complaint filed on July 1, 2024, by a local resident with the Tehsildar.
Earlier this year, the trust managing the dargahs initiated proceedings before the Superintendent of Land Records (SLR) to assert the legitimacy of its possession and occupation of the property. In its petition to the High Court, the trust argued that the civic council issued the demolition notice while the SLR plea was still at the stage of spot inspection.
Petitioner's Plea
Abdulsattar Mujavar, the managing trustee of the trust, sought a stay on the May 7 notice and requested directions to restrain the respondents, their officers, agents, servants, and all persons acting on their behalf from demolishing, disturbing, removing, or interfering with the dargah constructions, structures, and religious objects until the hearing and final disposal of the petition.
Security Measures at Panhala Fort
Meanwhile, Resident District Magistrate Gajanan Gurav imposed prohibitory orders in and around Panhala fort, located 20 km from Kolhapur, which attracts thousands of visitors daily. These orders were in effect from May 8 to May 10 midnight. Heavy police deployment was also observed at Panhala fort on Sunday.
