Indian court issues contempt notices over demolition of 300-year-old Sufi shrine
Court intervenes after historic Muslim shrine in India destroyed despite Supreme Court protections and procedural safeguards
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A regional court in India has initiated contempt proceedings against local government officials for demolishing a 300-year-old Muslim shrine, in apparent violation of both Supreme Court directives and state policy regulating religious structures.
According to LiveLaw, the Gujarat High Court has issued contempt notices to the Municipal Commissioner and Senior Town Planner of Junagadh city after the destruction of the Hajrat Jok Alisha Dargah—an act the court said may constitute defiance of a binding Supreme Court judgment.
A two-judge panel, Justices A.S. Supehia and R.T. Vachhani, said there was a prima facie case of contempt, citing a 2018 Supreme Court ruling and a 2024 government resolution that lay out specific procedures for dealing with alleged encroachments involving religious sites.
The shrine’s trustee filed the petition, alleging that officials ignored long-standing legal protections and due process. The Dargah, registered with the Gujarat State Waqf Board since 1964, was reportedly demolished on April 17 following a removal notice issued earlier that month.
The petitioner stated that local authorities proceeded despite receiving formal responses referencing both the site’s religious significance and the legal framework protecting it.
Under India’s 2024 state policy—introduced in line with a 2009 Supreme Court directive—municipal bodies are required to form dedicated committees and appoint nodal officers before taking any action against religious structures on public land. The policy was intended to balance public planning needs with constitutional protections for places of worship.
Yet, in this case, the High Court observed that city officials issued a final removal order on April 9, demanding the shrine’s clearance within five days, despite the trustee’s repeated efforts to assert its historical and legal status.
The demolition has sparked concern among civil rights advocates, who view it as part of a broader pattern of state-led targeting of minority religious sites under the guise of urban development or encroachment removal.
Citing the Supreme Court’s provision allowing High Courts to initiate contempt proceedings for non-compliance, the bench summoned the officials to respond. A hearing is scheduled for July 28.
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